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Problem Set 2

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18 views

Problem Set 2

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ullahfaizan00
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Problem Set II

Course: Relativity (PHY341)


Class: BS-Physics Semester-V

Note: This set of problems is related with the realistic examples of Lorentz’ trans-
formations and their consequences.
Q.1 The distance of a star from the Sun, as measured in the rest frame of the Sun
and star, is 5.3 light-years. Consider a spaceship that departs the solar system at
a speed 37 c bound for the star, when the two clocks: one at the Sun and the other
at the spaceship, are synchronized at t = 0. Calculate the time of arrival of the
spaceship in the rest frame of the Sun:
(a) as measured by the clock at the Sun.
(b) as measured by the clock at he spaceship.

Q.2 A K + -meson is created in a lab and decays into two π-mesons in its own
rest frame with its life time 12.4 ns. How fast is it travelling in the laboratory if
it moves a distance of 10.0 m before decaying?

Q.3 The visible disk of our Milky Way galaxy is about 105 light-years in diameter.
A cosmic-ray proton enters the galactic plane with speed υ = 0.99 c . How long
would it take the proton to cross the galaxy from our point of view? What would
be the corresponding time if measured from the proton’s frame? How wide is the
galactic plane to the proton, in its direction of motion?

Q.4 In order to prolong one’s life, observer A starts a journey leaving observer
B behind. If A moves a round trip at the steady rate of 5 × 102 m/s for 102 sec.
according to the clock of B, how much less have A aged than B?

Q.5 A particular muon lives for ∆τ = 2.2µs in its own rest frame. If that muon is
travelling with speed υ = 53 c relative to an observer on Earth, what is its life-time
as measured by that observer?

Q.6 In an inertial frame two events separated by 3.6 × 109 m, occur with a time
interval of 20 s. Show that it is possible to find a new inertial frame in which these
two events are observed to occur at the same place. Also find the time interval
between the same events as measured by that new inertial frame.

Q.7 Deduce the modified (Einstein’s) law of addition of velocities from Lorentz
transformation equations.

c
Q.8 The speed of light in still water is n
, where n be the refractive index of

1
water. It can be shown experimentally that the speed of light in running water
can be expressed as nc + kυ, where k is called the drag coefficient and υ be the
speed of water. Use velocity composition law and find the value of k.(n = 43 ).

Q.9 What is the Doppler shift in the wavelength of Hα(6561A◦ ) line from a star
which is moving away from the Earth with a velocity 2.5 × 105 m/s.

Q.10 How fast would you need to drive towards a red traffic light (λred ∼ 7 ×
10−5 cm) for the light to appear green (λgreen ∼ 5 × 10−5 cm)?

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