Hints for solving Relativity problems

1. Draw a picture and define the reference frames, showing their motion
relative to each other.

2. Identify objects and their motion in the reference frames and events that
happen at a specific place and time.

3. Identify any proper time intervals and proper lengths. These are measured
in an object’s rest frame.

4. Identify all other given information about coordinates/velocities with

respect to moving frames.

5. Apply the principle of relativity and the Lorentz transformations

6. Check if the results are consistent with Galilean relativity when velocity is
small.

7. Resolving paradoxes: Remember the laws of physics must be invariant in

each observer’s frame.
 Relativistic Momentum
Classical definition of momentum:

dx
p = m = mu
dt

Conservation of momentum: : When two or more isolated particles

collide (no net forces acting on them), the total momentum is conserved.

According to the principle of relativity, momentum must be conserved in

all reference frames.

Using the Lorentz transformations, does the classical definition of

momentum obey conservation of momentum?
 Relativistic Momentum
Consider an inelastic collision of two particles of equal mass approaching each
other with speed v in the lab frame S.
Before collision After collision
1 2 1 2
v v V=0
In frame S, the classical definition of momentum is conserved:

Total momentum before collision: mu1 + mu2 = mv ! mv = 0

Total momentum after collision: V =0

In frame S’ moving at velocity v relative to frame S, using the Lorentz

transformations,

u1 " v u2 " v "2v V "v

u1! = = 0, u2! = = , V! = = "v
1 " u1v c 2
1 " u2 v c 2
1+ v c
2 2
1 " Vv c 2
 Relativistic Momentum
Consider an inelastic collision of two particles of equal mass approaching each
other with speed v in the lab frame S.
Before collision After collision
1 2 1 2
v v V=0
In frame S’, the classical definition of momentum is not conserved:

Total momentum before collision:

"2mv
mu1! + mu2! =
1 + v 2 c2
Total momentum after collision:

2mV ! = "2mv
 Relativistic Momentum
We must modify our definition of momentum so that conservation of momentum
holds in all inertial frames. Try using

mu
p=
1 ! u2 c2

Using this definition one can verify that conservation of momentum holds.

In the low velocity limit the relativistic momentum, the denominator

approaches 1, so that we recover the classical momentum as expected:
 Relativistic form of Newton’s 2nd Law
The modified definition of momentum results in a relativistic form of Newton’s 2nd
law:
dp d " mu %
F= = $ '
dt dt # 1 ! u c '&
$ 2 2

Consider a constant force along x. Then

dpx d " mux % " ux 2

%
!3/ 2
dux " ux 2
%
!3/ 2

Fx = = $ ' = m$1 ! 2 ' = m$1 ! 2 ' ax

dt dt $# 1 ! u c '&
2 2
# c & dt # c &
x

3/ 2
Fx " ux % 2

ax = $ 1 ! 2 '
m# c &
 Relativistic form of Newton’s 2nd Law
3/ 2
Fx " ux 2 %
ax = $ 1 ! 2 '
m# c &

• As ux approaches c, the acceleration ax approaches 0.

• When ux=c, the acceleration is 0, so the speed cannot increase any more.
• Thus a particle cannot be accelerated to a speed beyond c.
 Momentum of subatomic particles
In a particle accelerator, when electrons accelerated to 0.999c collide with a
target, the collision produces a muon which moves in the direction of the
electron with a speed of 0.95c. What is the muon’s momentum in the lab frame
and in the frame of the electron beam?

Lab frame: S
Electron’s frame: S’
Relative velocity of the two frames: v = velocity of electron = 0.999c

In frame S:

Velocity of muon: 0.95c

Momentum of muon:

p=
mu
=
(1.9 " 10 !28
)(
kg 0.95c ) = 1.73 " 10 !19
kgm / s
1 ! u2 c2 1 ! 0.952
 Momentum of subatomic particles
In a particle accelerator, when electrons accelerated to 0.999c collide with a
target, the collision produces a muon which moves in the direction of the
electron with a speed of 0.95c. What is the muon’s momentum in the lab frame
and in the frame of the electron beam?

Lab frame: S
Electron’s frame: S’
Relative velocity of the two frames: v = velocity of electron = 0.999c

In frame S’:
Velocity of muon:
u"v 0.95c " 0.999c
u! = = = "0.962c
1 " uv c 2
1 " (0.95)(0.999)
Momentum of muon:

p! =
mu!
=
(1.9 # 10 "28
)(
kg "0.962c ) = "2.01 # 10 "19
kgm / s
1 " u! 2 c 2 1 " 0.9622
 Relativistic Energy
Recall the work done by a force F to move a particle from x1 to x2 is
x2 x2
dp
W= ! Fdx = ! dt
dx
x1 x1

Given the relativistic momentum

mu dp d " mu % " u %2
!3/ 2
du
p= = $ ' = m$1 ! 2 '
1 ! u2 c2 dt dt $# 1 ! u 2 c 2 '& # c & dt
x

x2 x2 x2 "3/ 2 uf "3/ 2
dp # u2 & du # u2 & du
W= ! Fdx = ! dt
dx = ! m % 1 " 2 (
$ c ' dt
dx = ! m % 1 " 2 (
$ c ' dt
udt
x1 x1 x1 0

mc 2
W= ! mc 2
1 ! u2 c2
 Relativistic Energy
mc 2
W= ! mc 2
1 ! u2 c2
The work-energy theorem: Work done by all forces on a particle =
change in kinetic energy of the particle.
If the initial kinetic energy is 0, then work = final kinetic energy:
mc 2
K =W = ! mc 2
1 ! u2 c2

Define
1
!u =
1 " u2 c2

K = ! u mc 2 " mc 2
 Relativistic Energy
K = ! u mc 2 " mc 2

In the low velocity limit we recover the classical expression for K:

1 1 u2
!u = # 1+ 2
+ ...
1" u c
2 2 2c
2
1 u 1 2
K = ! u mc 2 " mc 2 # mc 2 + 2
mc 2
" mc 2
= mu
2c 2
 Mass-Energy Equivalence
K = ! u mc 2 " mc 2

Rearranging the kinetic energy equation,

! u mc 2 = K + mc 2

The total energy of a particle is E = ! u mc 2 (mass-energy equivalence)

It is equal to the sum of the kinetic energy and the rest mass mc2.