SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

Sample Problems
Special Theory of Relativity
Instructor: Mr. Kim Diate

Problem 1 - Consequence of A.E’s Postulate -Time Dilation

The proper lifetime of a certain particle is 120.0 ns.

Solution
a. How long does it live in the laboratory if it moves at v = 0.950c?
• Recall that the proper time (t0 ) is always given by the time measured on the frame of reference
that is moving with respect to the stationary observer on Earth.
• From the equation for time dilation, we have to solve for ∆t. This is the time measured by
the stationary observer on the laboratory.
s
1
∆t = ∆t0 2
1 − vc2

s
1
∆t = ∆t0 2
1 − vc2
s
1
∆t = (120 ns) (0.950c)2
1− c2
s
1
∆t = (120x10−9 s) (0.950)2 (c)2
1− c2
v
u 1
∆t = (120x10−9 s)t
u
(0.950)2 2)
(c
1− 2
c
s
1
∆t = (120x10−9 s)
1 − (0.950)2

∆t = 3.84x10−7 s or 384 ns

b. How far does it travel in the laboratory during that time?

• The distance it travelled in the laboratory will make use of its time as measured in the
laboratory (i.e., 384 ns).

d
v=
t
d = vt
d = (0.950c)(384 ns)
m
d = (0.950)(3x108 )(384x10−9 s)
s
d = 109.44 m.

d = 109.44 m.

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 SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

c. What is the distance travelled in the laboratory according to an observer moving with the
particle?

• The distance travelled in the laboratory according to the observer that is moving with the
particle is based on his/her measured time or lifetime of the particle (i.e., 120 ns ).

d0
v=
t0
d0 = vt0
d0 = (0.950c)(120 ns)
m
d0 = (0.950)(3x108 )(120x10−9 s)
s
d0 = 34.2 m.

d0 = 34.2 m.

Problem 2 - Consequence of A.E’s Postulate -Length Contrac-

tion
How fast must an object move before its length appears to be contracted to one-half its proper
length?

Solution
• Recall that the equation describing the contraction of length when dealing with relativistic
speeds (speeds that are a fraction of the speed of light (c)) is given by
r
v2
L = Lo 1−
c2
• The problem asks us to find the velocity (v) such that the length (L) is half of the proper
length (L0 ).
1
L = L0
2

r
v2
L = L0 1− 2
c
r !2
v2
L2 = (L0 )2 1− 2
c
v2
L2 = (L0 )2 (1 − )
c2

Divide both sides by L20

L2 v2
= (1 − )
L20 c2
L2 c2 − v 2
= ( )
(L20 c2

Multiply both sides of the equation by c2

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 SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

L2
c2 · = c2 − v 2
L20
L2
v 2 = c2 − c2 ·
L20

Factor out c2 .

L2
 
2 2
v =c 1− 2
L
s  0 
L2
v = c2 1 − 2
L0
s 
L2
v =c 1− 2
L0
s
( 12 · L0 )2

v =c 1−
L20
r
1
v =c 1−
4
r
3
v =c
4

r
3 m
v= c or 2.60x108
4 s

Problem 3 - Relativistic Addition of Velocity

A spaceship moving away from Earth at a speed of 0.80c fires a missile parallel to its direction
of motion. The missile moves at a speed of 0.600c relative to the ship. What is the speed of the
missile as measured by and observer on Earth?

If we impose the classical addition of velocity

v = v′ + u
We have,

v = v′ + u
v = 0.60c + 0.80c
v = 1.40 c

This is clearly NOT allowed since the observer on the Earth measures a speed that is faster
than light.

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 SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

If we use the relativistic addition of velocity, which follows the Lorentz transformation.

v′ + u
v= ′
1 + vc2u
We have,

v′ + u
v= ′
1 + vc2u
0.60c + 0.80c
v=  
(0.60c)(0.80c)
1+ c2
1.40c
v=  2)

(c
(0.60)(0.80)
1+
c2
v = 0.95c

v = 0.95c.
The observer on the Earth measures the missile to move at 0.95c.

Problem 4 - Lorentz Transformation

Two events occur at locations separated by a distance of 49.5 m and by a time interval of 0.528
µs, according to observer O. Observer O’ is in motion away from O with a speed of 0.685c in the
x direction. According to O’, what are the spatial and time separations of the events?

Solution
Given:
x = 49.5 m
t = 0.528 µs or 0.528 x 10−6 s
u = 0.685c

A. According to O’, what are the spatial separation of the events (x’)?

x − ut
x′ = q
2
1 − uc2
49.5 m − (0.685c)(0.528µs)
x′ = q
2
1 − (0.685c)
c2
49.5 m − (0.685c)(0.528x10−6 s)
x′ = q
2)
2 (c
1 − (0.6852 )
c
′
x = −80.99 m

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 SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

x′ = −80.99 m
B. According to O’, what are the time separation of the events (t’)?

′ t − ( cu2 )x
t = q
2
1 − uc2

′ 0.528µs − ( 0.685c
c2
)(49.5 m)
t = q
2
1 − (0.685c)
c2

0.528µs − ( 0.685 )(49.5 m)

t′ = q c
2)
2 (c
1 − (0.685)2 
c
 
0.528x10−6 s − 3x10 0.685
8m (49.5 m)
t′ = q s
2)
2 (c
1 − (0.685)2 
c
−6 0.685
0.528x10 s − ( 3x108 m
)(49.5 m)
t′ = √ s

1 − 0.6852
t′ = 0.570µs

t′ = 0.570µs

Problem 5 - Relativistic Dynamics

According to observer O, a certain particle has a momentum of 1,256 MeV/c and a total
relativistic energy of 1,351 MeV.

Solution
a. What is the rest energy of this particle?
Given:
p = 1, 256 M eV /c
Etot = 1, 351 M eV

The rest energy (E0 ) and total energy Etot is given by the equations:

E0 = mc2 ← [Equation1]
p
Etot = (pc)2 + (mc2 )2 ← [Equation2]

Thus, Equation 2 can also be written as

p
Etot = (pc)2 + (E0 )2

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 SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

Manipulating this equation to isolate E0 results to

p
Etot = (pc)2 + (E0 )2
hp i2
[Etot ]2 = (pc)2 + (E0 )2
(Etot )2 = (pc)2 + (E0 )2
(E0 )2 = (Etot )2 − (pc)2
p
E0 = (Etot )2 − (pc)2
s   2
1, 256 M eV
E0 = (1, 351 M eV )2 − (c)
c
s   2
1, 256 M eV
E0 = (1, 351 M eV − )2 (c)
c


p
E0 = (1, 351 M eV )2 − (1, 256 M eV )2
E0 = 497.66 M eV

E0 = 497.66 M eV

b. An observer O’ in a different frame of reference measures the momentum of this particle to be

857 MeV/c. What does O’ measures for the total relativistic energy of the particle?

Given:

p = 857 MeV/c and E0 = 497.66 MeV

Take note that we can use [Equation 2 ] above. Also, it is important to realize than you can
use the E0 from part a in the frame of reference O, since E0 is the same regardless of the frame of
reference.

p
Etot = (pc)2 + (E0 )2
s  2
M eV
Etot = 857 (c) + (E0 )2
c
s  2
M eV
Etot = 857 (c) + (497.66 M eV )2
c


p
Etot = (857 M eV )2 + (497.77 M eV )2
Etot = 991.01 M eV

Etot = 991.01 M eV

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 SED 128 - Modern Physics for Teachers

Guide Equations

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