Prof.

David Hilditch
André Cordeiro (TA) Relatividade
Christoph Gärtlein (TA) Week 3 2023/2024

Problem 1: Michelson-Morley Experiment With Real Wind

A pilot plans to fly due east from A to B and back again. If u is its airspeed and if l is the
distance between A and B, it is clear that its round-trip time t0 - if there is no wind - will
be 2l/u.

a) Suppose, however, that a steady headwind of speed v blows from the east. Show that the
round-trip time will now be

t0
t1 = (1)
1 − (v/u)2

b) Would the result be different if the wind blew from the west?

c) If the wind is from the north, show that the expected round-trip travel time is

t0
t2 = p (2)
1 − (v/u)2

d) Would the result be different if the wind blew from the south?

e) Note that these two travel times are not equal. In the Michelson-Morley experiment,
however, the experiment seems to show that (for arms of equal length), the travel times
for light are equal. What is the essential difference between the two situations?

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Prof. David Hilditch
André Cordeiro (TA) Relatividade
Christoph Gärtlein (TA) Week 3 2023/2024

Problem 2: A moving, slanting rod

A thin rod of length L′ , at rest in the S ′ frame, makes an angle of θ′ with the x′ axis.

a) What is its length L as measured by an observer in the S frame, for whom the rod is
moving at a speed βc in the direction of increasing x?

b) What angle does this moving rod make with the x axis?

c) Evaluate these quantities for L′ = 1.00 m, θ′ = 30o , and β = 0.40.

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Prof. David Hilditch
André Cordeiro (TA) Relatividade
Christoph Gärtlein (TA) Week 3 2023/2024

Problem 3: Lorentz Transformations in 3D

In this exercise, we shall obtain the Lorentz transformations from an inertial frame S at rest
to an inertial frame with velocity ⃗v named S ′ , in three dimensions of space. To perform this,
consider that the position vector ⃗x can be decomposed into ⃗x = x∥ ⃗n + x⊥ ⃗e⊥ , where ⃗n = ⃗vv is
the unit vector parallel to the velocity, v is the norm of the velocity and ⃗e⊥ is a unit vector
perpendicular to the velocity.

a) What is the Lorentz transformation written in the coordinates (ct, x∥ , x⊥ ) of S and S ′ ?

[Hint: Keep in mind the formula of the Lorentz transformation for an inertial frame with
velocity in the x direction given in class.]

b) Show that the transformation in the time coordinate is

 
′ ⃗v · ⃗x
t =γ t− 2 . (3)
c

c) Substituting the Lorentz transformation into ⃗x′ = x′∥ ⃗n + x′⊥ ⃗e⊥ , show that the transfor-
mation in the position vector is

⃗x′ = ⃗x + [(γ − 1)⃗n · ⃗x − γvt] ⃗n . (4)

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Prof. David Hilditch
André Cordeiro (TA) Relatividade
Christoph Gärtlein (TA) Week 3 2023/2024

Problem 4: Relativistic Velocity Addition in 3D

Consider an object moving with constant velocity in three dimensional space. Show that its
velocity as measured in two different frames S and S ′ are related by

 u∥ − v


 u′∥ = v ,
1 − 2 u∥


c (5)
⃗u⊥


⃗u′⊥ =  v ,
γ 1 − 2 u∥


c
where v = |⃗v | is the relative velocity of the reference frames, u∥ and ⃗u⊥ are the components
of the object’s velocity parallel and perpendicular to ⃗v respectively, and γ = γ(v) = (1 −
v 2 /c2 )−1/2 is the Lorentz factor.
We have found the velocity addition rule for three-dimensional velocities.
[Hint: Consider the interval between two events consisting of the space-time coordinates of
the moving object at two different instances. Write this interval in both reference frames and
consider how it relates to the velocities.]

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Prof. David Hilditch
André Cordeiro (TA) Relatividade
Christoph Gärtlein (TA) Week 3 2023/2024

Problem 5: In the Rear-view Mirror

For this problem, consider that velocities transform under boosts in the following manner

 u∥ − v
 u′ = v ,
 ∥


1 − 2 u∥

c (6)
⃗u⊥
⃗u′ =  v ,
 ⊥


γ 1 − 2 u∥

c

as we have shown in a previous problem.

Consider a mirror with velocity v along the x direction, and a light ray is emitted towards
the mirror at an angle θi with respect to the normal in the laboratory frame.

a) Suppose an observer sits at rest in the frame of the mirror. Show that the light ray is
reflected at angle θr′ with respect to the normal, such that

cos θi + β
cos θr′ = , (7)
1 + β cos θi
where β is defined as positive when the mirror and light source approach each other.
What does this imply for the images created by objects at relativistic speeds, as seen in
a rear-view mirror?
[Hint: Consider that the reflected and incident angles are the equal in the rest frame of
the mirror.]

b) Suppose now that the observer is sitting in the frame of the light source. Show that the
reflected angle θr is such that

(1 + β 2 ) cos θi + 2β
cos θr = . (8)
1 + β 2 + 2β cos θi

What does this imply for the images seen in the mirror in this case?

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Prof. David Hilditch
André Cordeiro (TA) Relatividade
Christoph Gärtlein (TA) Week 3 2023/2024

Problem 6: Fitting a log in a barn

This exercise is a qualitative analysis of the contraction of length and the principle of "si-
multaneous" events.

Consider a log moving towards a barn with a velocity v. The barn contains a front door
at F and a back door at R. There is the following mechanism. If the log is in front of a door
it will open and if it passed one, the respective door will close behind.

Furthermore, the length of the log QP is just slightly longer than the length of the barn
F R in a reference frame where both are not moving.

a) Draw a spacetime diagram including the inertial system in which the log is at rest (S ′ )
and the one in which the barn is at rest (S).

b) Does the log fit completely inside the barn (both doors can be closed) for an observer
moving with the log? What does an observer at rest with the barn observe?

c) Explain why there is no discrepancy between the two frames.

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Prof. David Hilditch
André Cordeiro (TA) Relatividade
Christoph Gärtlein (TA) Week 3 2023/2024

Problem 7: Time Ordering and Causality

Consider that the space-time interval between two events is written (∆t, ∆x) when these
events are measured in reference frame S, while it is written (∆t′ , ∆x′ ) when measured in
reference frame S ′ .

a) Show that the time ordering between two events is preserved if and only if

(∆x)2 < (c∆t)2 , and (∆x′ )2 < (c∆t′ )2 . (9)

In other words, these conditions are required for both ∆t > 0 and ∆t′ > 0 to be true
for any relative velocity between S and S ′ . What signals can be sent between these
two events? What does this tell you about the notion of causality (and therefore about
physical laws)?

b) Show that

(∆x)2 − (c∆t)2 = (∆x′ )2 − (c∆t′ )2 , (10)

and therefore the two conditions in 9 are equivalent to each other. This difference of
squares is known as invariant space-time interval, and you will explore it in detail in
future lectures.

c) The distance from the Earth to the Moon is L ≃ 3.84 × 108 m (or about 1.3 light-seconds).
Suppose a powerful laser pointed at the Moon is rotated with an angular velocity of
ω = 2 rad/s. How fast does the spot created by the laser on the lunar surface move? Does
this break causality? Why or why not?

Suggestions for reading:

Tong’s lecture notes (as always) up to 7.2.3 on page 118.
Kleppner’s book, sections 12.4-12.7. You might also take a look at the first few problems in
Chapter 12.