UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA

CODeL –Distance Learning

Assignment 2: Modern Physics for Educators (PHE 3751)

SEMESTER 1, 2024

Tutor: Paulus S Weyulu

Due Date: TBA

Instructions: Answer all Question clearly to avoid loosing marks, all work, including
sketches drawn!.

NB: SHOW ALL YOUR STEPS CLEARLY TO EARN MARKS.

Use the cover page provided on Moodle

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QUESTION 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total: 10

(a) what is the medium that we know today that light travels through, which means the
ultimate medium with respect to which all measurements must be made. After giving that
short answer, please say something true for 4 marks on this issue- if this part of your answer
is more than four sentences then 4 marks will be deducted from your total marks. [5]

(b) can we use relativity to solve a problem involving the trajectory of a skateboarder shown
in the picture below. Justify your answer. [5]

QUESTION 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Total: 20
An electron with kinetic energy of 50 MeV, such as an electron produced in a linear
accelerator, can be shown to have a speed parameter of 0.999949c. A beam of such electrons
moves along the axis of an evacuated tube that is 10 m long, measured in the reference frame
S fixed in the lab. Imagine a second frame 𝑆 ′ , attached to an electron in the beam and
moving with it.

(a) How long would this tube seem to be to an observer riding on the electron? [8]

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 (b) Repeat the calculation for a 30 GeV electron with a speed parameter of
0.99999999986c. [12]

QUESTION 3………………………………………………………………………………Total: 10

An observer in the S frame notes that an event occurs along the 𝑥 − 𝑥 ′ axis and records its
space-time coordinates as 3.00 m and 6.00 ns. The 𝑆 ′ frame is moving with velocity 𝑣 with
respect to S along their common x-axis.

(a) If 𝑣 = 0.700𝑐 , what space-time coordinates would the 𝑆 ′ observer record for this
event? [6]
(b) What would have been the space-time coordinates observed by observer 𝑆 ′ if
Galilean transformations held? [4]

QUESTION 4………………………………………………………………………………Total: 16

Using Einstein’s mass-energy relation 𝐸 = 𝑚𝑐 2 , and by employing the relativistic energy

𝐸 = 𝐸(𝑣)relation show that.

𝐸 = √𝑚𝑜 𝑐 4 + 𝑝2 𝑐 2

Where 𝑚𝑜 is the rest mass of a particle, and 𝑝 is its momentum.

QUESTION 5 ………………………………………………………………………………Total: 16

Use the usefulness of the space time interval 𝑠 2 (𝑜𝑟 ∆𝑠 2 ) to derive the time dilation
formula. What assumption had you to made?

QUESTION 6 …………………………………………………………..…………Total: 10

Frame 𝑆 ′ is moving relative to frame 𝑆 with a speed of 𝑣 = 0.7𝑐. An object is moving

relative to frame 𝑆 ′ with a speed of 𝑢 = 0.4𝑐 in the direction away from 𝑆 . Calculate the
speed 𝑢′ that this object appears to move relative to frame 𝑆 . express your answer in terms of
the speed of light.

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QUESTION 7 ……………………………………………………………….Total: 10

A flashlight goes off, as measured by observer 𝑆, at time 𝑡 = 6 × 10−4 𝑠 , and spatial location
𝑥 = 200 𝑘𝑚, 𝑦 = 20 𝑘𝑚 , 𝑧 = 3 𝑘𝑚. What are the coordinates 𝑡 ′ , 𝑥 ′ , 𝑦 ′ , 𝑧 ′ of this event as
determined by observer 𝑆 ′ which moves with velocity −0.75𝑐 along the common 𝑥 −
𝑥 ′ 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠?

QUESTION 8 ………………………………………………………………..Total: 8

(a) In alpha decay, part of a nucleus breaks away and a positively charged alpha particle
is emitted. Complete the following alpha decay reaction, writing down the values of
𝐴, 𝑍, 𝑋 and the composition of the alpha particle emitted.

238
92𝑈 → 𝐴𝑍𝑋 + ? ?

(b) In normal beta decay ( 𝛽 − 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑦 ) , a neutron transforms into a proton and an
electron. Complete the following beta decay reaction, writing down the values of
𝐴, 𝑍, 𝑋 and the composition of the beta particle emitted.

14
6𝐶 → 𝐴𝑍𝑋 + ? ?

Total: 100