Relativity 6H

Chapter ContentsS
Rsins:
Relativity, Lorentz transformation, tour-vector,Energy-mass

Contents in Brief.

6H.1 Lorentz transformations

X axis with uniform
Suppose, the S frame is the rest frame and S'frame is moving along space with respect
a
velocity v. If (%, y, z, t) and (x,y,z, t) represent the coordinates of point in
to the S fram and the S frame respectively then according to Lorentz Transformation

t
y=y, z=z and =

6H.2 Applications of Lorentz transformations

at rest with
1. Length contraction: A body's length is measured to be greatest when the body is
respect to the observer. When the body moves with a velocity v relative to the observer, its
- whereas its
measured length is contracted in the direction of its motion by the factor
dimensions perpendicular to the direction of motion remain unaltered. The improper length

() of the body is related to the proper length (L) by the equation I'= L1-%
2. Time dilation:Acdock is measured to go at its fastest rate when it is at rest relative to the
to
observer. When it moves with a velocity v relative to the observer, its rate is measured have

slowed down by a factor

dt
b the improper time interval and dr be the proper time interval then, dt
=
If dt

6H.3 Four vector

According to special theory of relativity, an event is represented by the three space coordinates
( 4, ) and also the time co-ordinate, ie, an event is represented by (*, y, z, ). Ifsame the
coordinates (x, y, 2z, t) represent an event in the S frame and (r, ,Z, ) represent the
event in S frame thern by Lorentz transformation
t++-=+y+-d Or,
x+'+-= x+ 2

257
 258| SLST Physics

where, In=ct, x,=x, x,=y and x, = are the components of a 4-dimensional vector
where, =0, 1, 2, 3. This 4-dimensional vector z, is called the four vector. x,i

6H.4 Mass-Energy relation

Total energy of a moving body is equal to sum of its rest mass energy
and kinetic energy.
If m, is the rest mass of the body and T is its kinetic energy then total energy (E) of the_body
is E=T+ me.

As, T= F=(n-m) c. where m=. the above relation comes out as

E-T+my=(m - m)c+me =mc

Therefore, the mass energy relation is E=mc.

:
Multiple Choice Questions (MCO)

1. Proper frame of reference is one c] is in uniform motion with velocity equa!

la] which is always at rest to that of light in free space relative to
[b] which is in motion with uniforn the observer
velocity [d] any one may be correct depending on
the medium
Jd in which the observed body is at rest 5. Two lumps of clay, each of rest mass my
[d] in which the observed body is in motion
with uniform velocity collide head-on at cand stick together.
2. If dtrepresents the improper time interval The mass of the composite lump will be
10
and dr represents the proper one then b]
their relation is 5

6. A beam of f-mesons, produced at a height

[a] dt= dt Joj dt = dt
of 20 km in the atmosphere, travels
downward with a velocity of 0.99c. If 99%
„2 of the original mesons decay before
[d] none reaching the earth's surface, the mean life
fime of the -mesons is
3. Two electrons leave a radioactive sample
=10s =2.06 x 10s
b]
in opposite directions, each having a
c] m 2.06 x 10s d] =2.06x 10s
=

speed 0.67c with respect to the sample.

The speed of one electron relative to the 7. The interval S²= x++-d is called
other is the fime-ike interval if
a] 1.34c b] 0.67c [a s=0
0.92%
el 8. If the radius of a 10 MeV electron moving
4. A body's length is measured to be greatest
at right angles to a wniform magnetic field
when the body of 2 * 10 gauss is computed relativisti
j is at rest relative to the observer cally, it willcome out to be
[b] is in uniform motion with velocity less fa 1.07 cm b] 1.27 cm
than that of light in free space relative to c] 1.57 cm Ja 1.77 cm
the observer
 Relativity |259
9. In a frame S, the following two events 14. Suppose, the S frame js the srest frane and
Occur:
S frame is noving along X axis witk
Event 1:
t, = /c and y, = z =0. uniform velocity v. If 7=in,+ju, +ku,
Event 2 :x, =2x t, = x/(2c) and y,= z,= 0.
and i? =in+ju + ku, denote the velocities
The velocity of the frame S' (with respect
to S) in which these two events occur at of a moving particle with respect to the
S frame and the S' rame respectively then
the same time is

1
0. If y-e«). B=, Kand E
1
are respectively. kinetic and total energies
of a particle then
1+
15. A particle of rest mass is moving with a
velocity equal to 98% of the velocity of
light. The relativisticmass of the particle
will be
[a] 2rm b] 3t,
Iel B=1+ and 1

and b' 16. The relation between energy (E) and

momentum (p) of a relativistic particle of
1. If the interval between two events be
rest mass m, 1S
pace-ike then
[a] the events carn easily be connected by a
light signal
[b] the events cannot easily be connected by space traveller with velocity
17. A

a light signal
synchronizes his clock (= 0) with the
Lthe events cannot be connected by a light earth friend (t = 0). The earth friend then
signal observes both clocks simultaneously, t
[a none directly and through a telescope. When
t
2. Given that the proper mean life of a particle
t reads one hour, treads
is 25 x 10-s. The distance traversed by the
particle during one mean life if it travels
with a speed of 2,22x10" cm/s is (1+B)
hour l1-)
b] V1+) hour
al 258.2 cm
[c] 852.2 cm
o 825.2 cm
(dj 582.2 cm
Vi-B)

3. IfL is the rest volume of a cube, then the -B). 1+B)

a
[c]
Yl+B2) hour [d] hour
volum of the cube as viewed from
reference frame moving with uniform
18. Velocity of a photon with respect to the S
velocity t =B-) parallel to an edge of frame (mnoving along X axis with uniform
the cube will be
velocity v) is c. Its velocity with respect to
the stationary frame S will be
[a] v
V1+B2 [c c+ [a] c-v
 260 SLST Physics

19. There is a circle 21. The momentum of a relativistic electron,

+'= in frame S.
having rest mass 9.1×10 kg is
How will it look like in the S' frame which
ismoving with velocity v relative to S? 1.55 x
10
kg-m/s. Velocity of light in
[a] circle
vacuum =3x10 m/s. The speed at which
bl parabola the particle is moving i
Jej ellipse [d] straight line
20. A rocket of initial mass m,starts to move Já 1.70x10 m/s b) 3.40×103 m/s
with a velocity v relative to its frame of [c] 5.10x10o m/s [a] 1.70×1012 m/s
reference. The final mass at a certain
instant becomes ,.
If the momentum and ,
22. A rigid rod of length is moving with a
energy are conserved then
velocity 0.8c in a direction at 30° to its own
length. The length of the rod in motion
will be
la] 0.12, [b] 0.241,
- M_(c+D) [c] 0.507%,

Answers

c 3. c 4. a 5. a 6. b 7. b 8. d 9. a 10. d
1. 2. b

11. c 12. b 13. a 14. a 15. d 16. c 17.a 18. b 19. c 20. a
21. a 22. d

Hints /Solutions

3. According to Einstein velocity addition theorem, u= n2 U92C, since here u'= 0.67c and

v=0.67c
5. According to conservation of momentum, momentum before collision = momentum after colision

zero. Energy of each lump before collision is 5 me. fM

=
be mass of the composite

lump after collision then, M=2xm,c. Therefore, M= 10

20 km
6. To a terrestrial observer the time required by a -meson to travel 20 km distance is t=
0.99c
x 101*s.
=67.34 The corresponding time in the rest frame of -meson is

T=tx =9,495 x 10°s. In time 'r“, 99% of mesons decay. Applying N= Ne can be

calculated. Then, mean life time -2.06 x 10s

 Relativity 261
8. Relativisticexpresion for kinetic energy is, T= (m - mje=10*10°x16x10 erg.

. m=.
1.6x10-5
+9.1 x 10-28 gm =1.89 x 10-26 gm

1 Solving one can

Also, T =miye
-1. obtain=0.999

mDC
Therefore, r=R=1.77 cm

20x0

9. t= and f; 2c2
=.
.Forsimultaneity of the two events, = . Solving we havev=

10. Givern that,

e--e1-1-8
2

K= (m - m)e with E m
=

=1- =1-e
$1-1-1--1-1-p²
12. Proper mean life Ar= 2.5x 10* s.
Hence the mean life of the particle with respect to the laboratory frame is

2.5x10-8
At= =3.717 x 10 s.
O))2
((2:22x100)}
(3x100)

So, the distance traversed by the particle is velocity x At

=222 x10"x 3.717 10 cm
x

=
825.2.cm
13. The cube of rest length L, and having rest volume L has now a length Loi-B² along the
direction of motion and L, each in the other two (perpendicular) directions.
-
: The required moving volume is L,xL,* Lo1-B2 L1-B2

17. According to Lorentz transformation, =.

Since the earth friend observes the moving
262 SLST Physics

clock with a telescope, x=ct. Hence, =t=Bt.

Therefore, f=- t-Bt K1-9)I-8;

-p(1+B)
i-.
1+ß When =1h, tt= hour

19. Equation of circle in frame Sist+y-According to length contraction, X-z1-=y.

2

.: The equation becomes

+f=

Or, =1, which is the equation of an ellipse.

energy we
20. Let m, be the mass loss of the rocket. So, according to the principle of coniservation of

can write, .
mg'=+m ()

2
m; x0=
According to the principle of conservation of momentum,

Substituting
m
from equation (2) in equation (1) we get, me=

|1+2
Or, m;= Or,

21. Relativistic momentum,p=mo

10-391x10-1
1.55x10-33 =
=0.05871
 Relativity 263
1 =.
-=003468 +0.03468;
+0.0034468
-1.70x 1o-13 m/s

22. Let the S

fraine is moving relative to S frame parallel to the common X(or X) axis with a velocity
0.8c.

Y Y

S frame S frame

30 0.8c

X X

Length contraction parallel to X-axis gives,

1, (length parallel to X-axis as observed from the S frame)

1, (length of the rod parallel to Y-axis as observed from the S frame)

= sin 30° =

:. Length of the rod as observed from the S frame is

I-+6-3x036+1=3x036+1=2x144 -072,