Name: ___________________________________ Grade and Section: ____________ Score: _________

School: ___________________________ Teacher: _____________________ Subject: General Physics 2

LAS Writer: JEREMIAH S. SABRIDO Content Evaluator: EMMA T. SURITA, MICHAEL DAVE NALAGON
Lesson Topic: Time dilation, Length contraction and Relativistic velocity Quarter 4 Wk. 6 LAS 3
Learning Target/s: Apply the time dilation, length contraction and relativistic velocity-addition to
worded problems.
Reference(s): Holzner S., 2010. Physics II for Dummies. 111 River St. Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774: Wiley
Publishing, Inc., pp.249-253.

Time dilation, Length contraction and Relativistic velocity-addition

Time dilation is the phenomenon predicted by the theory of
special relativity that says time in two inertial reference frames moving
with respect to each other will appear to be different. In particular, the
time intervals on a speeding rocket will appear to be longer to you than to
∆𝑡𝑜
the people on the ship (figure1). It is expressed in the formula ∆𝑡 = 2
..
√1−𝑣2
𝑐 Figure 1
Light
Special relativity also tells you that
lengths get contracted at high speeds. The Sample problem for time dilation
object is actually contracted in length as seen The Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2) is an experimental
rocket vehicle capable of traveling at 21,000 km/h (5830 m/s). If an
from the stationary reference time frame. electronic clock in the HTV-2 measures a time interval of exactly 1-s
Length contraction can be calculated using duration, what would observers on Earth measure the time interval to
be?
𝑣2
the equation 𝐿 = 𝐿𝑜 √1 − where L is the
𝑐2 In this case, Δto is 1.0 seconds (recall that Δto is the time measured in
length measured by an observer who is in the same reference frame as the event being measured).
Given:
motion with respect to the distance being Δto = 1 s 1 = 1.0000000004 s
measured, Lo is the length measured by an v = 5830 m/s
=
3𝑚/𝑠 2
c = 3.0x108 m/s √1−(5.830 𝑥 10 ) or 1s + 4.0 × 10−10s
observer at rest with respect to the distance 3.8𝑥108 𝑚/𝑠
(constant)
being measured, v is the relative speed of the Significance
Solution: 1
two observers, and c is the speed of light in a 1 = The very high speed of
∆𝑡 = . √1−(1.9433 𝑥 10−5 )2 the HTV-2 is still only 10-
vacuum. √1−𝑣2
2 5
times the speed of light.
1𝑠
The second postulate of relativity says 𝑐 = Relativistic effects for the
1 √.9999999996 HTV-2 are negligible for
that classical velocity addition (velocities add = almost all purposes, but
2 1𝑠
like regular numbers in one dimensional √1−( 5830𝑚/𝑠 8 ) = are not zero.
3.8𝑥10 𝑚/𝑠 .999999998
motion) doesn’t apply to light. The correct
formula for one-dimensional relativistic velocity Sample problem for length contraction
𝑣+𝑢′ A crew member of a spaceship measures the ship’s length to be
addition is 𝑢 = 𝑣𝑢′
where u is the velocity of an 100 m. The ship flies past Earth at a speed of 0.900 times the
1+ 2
𝑐
speed of light. If observers on Earth measure the length of the
object relative to one observer, u’ is the velocity ship, what would they measure?
relative to the other observer, and c is the speed of Given: Solution:
∆𝑙 = (100 𝑚)√1 − (0.900)2
light in a vacuum. ∆𝑙𝑜 = 100 m 𝑣2 = (100 𝑚)√1 − 0.810
∆𝑙 = ∆𝑙𝑜 √1 − 2
v = 0.900 c 𝑐 = (100 𝑚)√0.190
∆𝑙 = ? 2 = (100 𝑚)(0.436)
ACTIVITY: Problem solving. Show your solutions. ∆𝑙 = (100 𝑚)√1 − (
0.900 𝑐 ∆𝑙 = 43.6 𝑚
)
𝑐

1. Say that the rocket is moving at 0.95 times the

Sample problem for relativistic velocity
speed of light, or 0.95c. Then suppose a clock on Suppose a spaceship heading directly toward Earth at half the
the rocket measures 1.0 seconds between speed of light sends a signal to us on a laser-produced beam of
light. Given that the light leaves the ship at speed c as observed
successive ticks. How long is the time between
from the ship, How fast does a light signal approach Earth of
ticks, measured in your reference frame? sent from a spaceship traveling at 0.500 c?
Solution: (0.500 + 1)𝑐
Given:
2. A spaceship, 195 m long as seem on board, 𝑣 + 𝑢′ =
𝑣 = 0.500 𝑐 𝑢= 0.500𝑐 2
𝑣𝑢′ 1+
moves by the Earth at 0.850 c. What is its length 𝑢′ = 𝑐 1+ 2 𝑐2
𝑐 1.500𝑐
as measured by an Earth-bound observer? 0.500 + 𝑐 =
= 1 + 0.500
0.500𝑐 2 =𝑐
1+
𝑐2
3. Two spaceships approach each other with Significance
Relativistic velocity gives the correct result. The speed of light is
velocities of 0.9 c. According to an observer on the independent of the relative motion of source and observer, whether
the observer is on the ship or earthbound.
spaceship, what is the velocity of the other ship?