1.

show that c 2 p 2=T 2+2Tm 0 c 2 where T is the kinetic energy and p is the momentum

Solution
Mass, energy and momentum
m0
m = m0γ = v2
√ 1−
c2
where m is the effective mass and m0 is the rest mass.
The rest mass energy
E0 = m0c 2
The total energy of a free particle is
E = T + m0c 2 = mc 2 = m0γc 2
where T is the kinetic energy.
The momentum p is given by
P = mν = m0γβc
2 4
E 2 = c 2 p2 + m 0 c
cp = βE
Therefore

c 2 p2 =T 2+2Tm 0 c
2

3. If a rod is to appear shrunk by half along its direction of motion, at what speed should it
travel?

Solution
L = L0/γ = L0/2
γ = 2 → β = (γ 2 - 1)1/2/γ = (22 - 1)1/2/2 = 0.866
v = βc = 0.866 × 3 × 108 = 2.448 × 108 ms-1

5. At the time a space ship moving with speed ν = 0.5 c passes a space station
located near Mars, a radio signal is sent from the station to earth. This signal
is received on earth 1,125 s later.
How long does the spaceship take to reach the earth according to the observers
on earth?

Solution
If the space station is located at a distance d from the earth then d is fixed by
the time taken by the radio signal to reach the earth is
d = ct
As observed from the earth, at t1 = 0 the spaceship was at a distance d
approaching with speed 0.5 c. It will arrive at time
t1 = d/βc = ct/βc = 1,125/0.5 = 2,250 s

7. What is the speed of a proton whose kinetic energy equals its rest energy? Does the
result depend on the mass of proton?
Solution
T = (γ - 1)m = m
γ=2
β = (γ 2 - 1)1/2/γ = 0.866
The result is independent of the mass of the particle.

9. Prove that if ν/c << 1, the kinetic energy of a particle will be much less
than its rest energy. Further show that the relativistic expression reduces to the classical
one for small velocities.

Solution