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Tutorial 1 - Chapter 1 - Modern Physics

This document contains a tutorial on chapter 1 of a modern physics course covering relativity. It provides 11 practice problems related to concepts in relativity including time dilation, length contraction, relativistic momentum and energy. The problems cover scenarios involving objects like muons, stars, galaxies and particles moving at relativistic speeds and ask students to calculate values like time elapsed, wavelength shifts, speeds and energies using equations from relativity.

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farah hanim
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54 views2 pages

Tutorial 1 - Chapter 1 - Modern Physics

This document contains a tutorial on chapter 1 of a modern physics course covering relativity. It provides 11 practice problems related to concepts in relativity including time dilation, length contraction, relativistic momentum and energy. The problems cover scenarios involving objects like muons, stars, galaxies and particles moving at relativistic speeds and ask students to calculate values like time elapsed, wavelength shifts, speeds and energies using equations from relativity.

Uploaded by

farah hanim
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modern Physics (ZAB1053)

Tutorial (Chapter 1 – Relativity)


1) Appearing in the time dilation and length contraction formulas, γv is a reasonable
measure of size of relativistic effects. What would be the speed it deviates from classical
expectations by 1%? (Ans: 0.14c)
2) Through a window in Carl’s spaceship, passing at 0.5c, you watch Carl doing an
important physics calculation. By your watch it takes him 1 min. How much time did
Carl spend on his calculation? (Ans: 52 s)
3) According to an observer on Earth, a spacecraft whizzing by at 0.6c is 35 m long. What
is the length of the spacecraft according to passengers on board? (Ans: 43.75 m)
4) In the frame in which they are at rest, the number of muons at time t is given by
N = N0e-t/τ, where N0 is the number at t = 0 and τ is the mean lifetime 2.2 µs. (a) If muons
are produced at a height of 4.0 km, heading toward the ground at 0.93c, what fraction
will survive to reach the ground? (b) What fraction would reach the ground if classical
mechanics were valid? (Ans: (a) 9.1 % (b) 0.14 %)
5) By what factor would a star’s characteristic wavelengths of light be shifted if it were
moving away from Earth at 0.9c? (Ans: 4.36λsource)
6) The light from galaxy NGC 221 consists of recognizable spectrum of wavelengths.
However, all are shifted toward the shorter wavelength end of the spectrum. In particular,
the calcium line ordinarily observed at 396.85 nm is observed at 396.58 nm. Is this
galaxy moving toward or away from Earth? At what speed? (Ans: moving toward,
0.000681c)
7) Bob is on Earth. Anna is on spacecraft moving away from Earth at 0.6c. At some point in
Anna’s outward travel, Bob fires a projectile loaded with supplies out to Anna’s ship.
Relative to Bob, the projectile moves at 0.8c. (a) How fast does the projectile move
relative to Anna? (b) Bob also sends a light signal, “Hello”, out to Anna’s ship. How fast
does the light signal move relative to Anna? (Ans: (a) 0.385c (b) c)
8) What are the momentum, energy, and kinetic energy of a proton moving at 0.8c? (Ans: p
= 6.68 x 10-19 kgm/s, E = 2.51 x 10-10 J, KE = 1.00 x 10-10 J)
9) What would be the internal energy, kinetic energy, and total energy of a 1 kg block
moving at 0.8c? (Ans: Einternal = 9 x 1016 J, KE = 6 x 1016 J, Etotal = 1.5 x 1017 J)
10) An electron accelerated from rest through a potential difference V acquires a speed of
0.9998c. Find the value of V. (Ans: 25.1 MV)
11) A 3.000 u object moving to the right through a laboratory at 0.8c collides with a 4.000 u
object moving left through the laboratory at 0.6c. Afterward, there are two objects, one

Prepared by: Dr Mohamed Shuaib Mohamed Saheed


Modern Physics (ZAB1053)

of which is a 6.000 u mass at rest. (a) What are the mass and speed of the other object.
(b) Determine the change in kinetic energy in this collision. (Ans: (a) 0.25c, 3.87 u, (b) -
4.29 x 10-10 J)

Prepared by: Dr Mohamed Shuaib Mohamed Saheed

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