Solutions manual for Special Relativity:

A Heuristic Approach Sadri Hassani

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Solutions Manual
For

Special Relativity
A Heuristic Approach

Sadri Hassani
 Contents

List of Symbols 1

1 Qualitative Relativity 5

2 Relativity of Time and Space 9

3 Lorentz Transformation 19

4 Spacetime Geometry 49

5 Spacetime Momentum 75

6 Relativity in Four Dimensions 85

7 Relativistic Photography 99

8 Relativistic Interactions 127

9 Interstellar Travel 139

10 A Painless Introduction to Tensors 151

11 Relativistic Electrodynamics 157

12 Early Universe 167

A Maxwell’s Equations 177

B Derivation of 4D Lorentz transformation 181

C Relativistic Photography Formulas 185

 List of Symbols, Phrases, and Acronyms

â unit vector in the direction of ~a

anti-particle a particle whose mass and spin are exactly the same as its corresponding
particle, but the sign of all its “charges” are opposite. If a particle is represented
by the letter p, then it is customary to denote its anti-particle by p̄. If a particle is
represented by the letter q − (or q + ), then it is customary to denote its anti-particle
by q + (or q − ).

as arcsecond; an arcsecond is an angle 1/3600 of a degree.

baryon a hadron whose spin is an odd multiple of ~/2. Baryons are composed of three
quarks. Examples of baryons are protons and neutrons.
~ fractional velocity of one observer relative to another, β~ = ~v /c
β

boson a particle whose spin is an integer multiple of ~. All gauge particles are bosons as
are all mesons, as well as the Higgs particle.

causally connected referring to two two events. If an observer or a light signal can be
present at two events, those events are said to be causally connected.

causally disconnected referring to two two events. If an observer or a light signal cannot
be present at two events, those events are said to be causally disconnected.

CBR Cosmic Background Radiation

CM center of mass

CS coordinate system

êx , êy , êz unit vectors along the three Cartesian axes.

EM electromagnetic or electromagnetism, one of the four fundamental forces of nature.

equilibrium temperature temperature of the universe at which matter and radiation

densities are equal

eV electron volt, unit of energy equal to 1.6 × 10−19 J

2 List of Symbols

fermion a particle whose spin is an odd multiple of ~/2. Fermions obey Pauli’s exclusion
principle: no two identical fermions can occupy a single quantum state. Electrons,
protons, and neutrons are fermions, so are all leptons and quarks, as well as all
baryons.
p p
γ the Lorentz factor, γ = 1/ 1 − β 2 = 1/ 1 − (v/c)2

gauge bosons According to the modern theory of forces, fundamental particles interact
via the exchange of gauge bosons. Excluding gravity, whose microscopic behavior
is not well understood, there are 12 gauge bosons whose exchange explains all the
interactions: Z 0 , W ± and γ (photon) are responsible for electroweak interaction,
while 8 gluons are responsible for strong interaction.

gluons the particles responsible for strong interactions: two or more quarks participate
in strong interaction by exchanging gluons. There are four gluons, which with their
antiparticles comprise the eight gluons whose exchange binds quarks together.

GTR general theory of relativity; the relativistic theory of gravity.

Gyr gigayear, equal to 109 years

hadron a particle capable of participating in strong nuclear interactions. Examples of

hadrons are protons, neutrons and pions. All hadrons are made up of quarks and/or
anti-quarks.

half life the time interval in which one half of the initial decaying particles survive.

LAV Law of Addition of Velocities

lepton a particle that participates only in electromagnetic and weak nuclear interactions,
but not in strong nuclear interactions. Leptons are elementary particles in the sense
that they are not made up of anything more elementary. There are three electri-
cally charged leptons: electron, muon, and tauon. Each charged lepton has its own
neutrino. So, altogether there are six leptons.

LHC Large Hadron Collider

light cone (at an event E) The set of all events that are causally connected to E.

light hour the distance that light travels in one hour, ≈ 1.08 × 1012 m

light minute the distance that light travels in one minute, ≈ 1.8 × 1010 m

light second the distance that light travels in one second, ≈ 3 × 108 m

lightlike referring to two events, when c∆t = ∆x or (∆s)2 = 0.

luminally connected referring to two two events. If a light signal can be present at two
events, those events are said to be luminally connected.

ly light year; one light year is 9.467 × 1015 m.

mean time the time interval in which 1/e of the initial decaying particles survive.
 List of Symbols 3

meson a hadron whose spin is an integer multiple of ~. Mesons are composed of one quark
and one anti-quark. Examples of mesons are pions.

MeV million electron volt, unit of energy equal to 1.6 × 10−13 J

µm micrometer = 10−6 m

Minkowskian distance also called “spacetime distance,”

(∆s)2 = (c∆t)2 − (∆x)2

is an expression involving the coordinates of two events which is independent of the

coordinates used to describe those events.

MM clock sometimes called “light clock” is described on page 13.

Mpc Megaparsec

muon an elementary particle belonging to the group of particles named “leptons,” to which
electron belongs as well. Muon is called a “fat electron” because it behaves very much
like an electron except that it is heavier.

neutrino a neutral lepton with very small mass. Neutrinos participate only in weak nuclear
force. That’s why they are very weakly interacting.

ns nanosecond or 10−9 s

Parsec A distance of about 3.26 light years. One parsec corresponds to the distance at
which the mean radius of the Earth’s orbit subtends an angle of one second of arc.

positron the anti-particle of the electron

quarks elementary particles which make up all hadrons. There are six quarks: up, down,
strange, charm, bottom, top. Quarks participate in all interactions, in particular, the
strong interaction.

RF reference frame

spacelike referring to two events, when c∆t < ∆x or (∆s)2 < 0.

spacetime distance see Minkowskian distance

STR special theory of relativity

tauon an elementary particle belonging to the group of particles named “leptons,” to which
electron belongs as well. It is the heaviest lepton discovered so far.

timelike referring to two events, when c∆t > ∆x or (∆s)2 > 0.

 CHAPTER 1

Qualitative Relativity

Problems With Solutions

1.1. A rod of length L emits light from all of its points simultaneously (in its rest frame)
when a remote switch is turned on. Its center is on the x-axis and is moving on the axis in
a plane parallel to a very large photographic plate and infinitesimally close to it. When it
reaches the middle of the plate, the switch is turned on.

(a) Compare the length L|| of the image on the photographic plate with L when the rod
is along the x-axis: L|| > L, L|| = L, or L|| < L? Give a reason for your answer.

(b) Compare the length L⊥ of the image on the photographic plate with L when the rod
is perpendicular to the x-axis: L⊥ > L, L⊥ = L, or L⊥ < L? Give a reason for your
answer.

Solution:

(a) Length parallel to the direction of motion shrinks regardless of who sees the events
of light emission simultaneously. See the discussion in Section 1.3 for the reason (as
well as how to capture the length of a moving object).

(b) Length perpendicular to the direction of motion does not change.

Note the importance of the fact that the distance between the rod and the photographic
plate is zero. 

1.2. A rod is placed along the x-axis with its center at the origin. A pinhole camera C1 is
located on the z-axis and takes a picture of the stationary rod. Now the rod starts moving
along the x-axis parallel to itself from −∞. Camera C1 is removed and another pinhole
camera C2 replaces it on the z-axis. As soon as the center of the rod reaches the origin
(call it t = 0), C2 takes a picture.

(a) Is the pinhole of C2 collecting the light rays from the two ends of the rod that were
emitted at t = 0?
6 Qualitative Relativity

(b) Is the pinhole collecting the light rays from the two ends of the rod that were emitted
simultaneously, but not at t = 0?

(c) If the answer to (b) is no, which end emitted its light first, the trailing end or the
leading end?

(d) Is it possible for the image of the rod in C2 to be longer than its image in C1 ? Hint:
Consider the location of each end as it emits the light ray captured by C2 .

Solution:

(a) No. It takes time for the light to reach the camera once it leaves its source.

(b) No.

(c) The trailing end is farther away from the camera, so it must emit the light sooner
than the leading end.

(d) The trailing end emits its light, the rod moves a little, then the leading end emits its
light. So, the distance between the source of the light from the trailing end and that
of the leading end is indeed larger than the length of the rod.

Note that the image in camera C2 , which is longer than the image in C1 , has nothing to do
with the actual length of the rod! 

1.3. A rod is placed along the y-axis with its center at the origin. A pinhole camera C1 is
located on the z-axis and takes a picture of the stationary rod. Now the rod starts moving
along the x-axis parallel to itself from −∞. Camera C1 is removed and another pinhole
camera C2 replaces it on the z-axis. As soon as the center of the rod reaches the origin
(call it t = 0), C2 takes a picture.

(a) Is the pinhole of C2 collecting the light rays from the two ends of the rod that were
emitted at t = 0?

(b) Is the pinhole collecting the light rays from the two ends of the rod that were emitted
simultaneously, but not at t = 0?

(c) If the answer to (b) is no, which end emitted its light first, the top or the bottom?

(d) Is it possible for the image of the rod in C2 to be longer than its image in C1 ? Hint:
Consider the locations of the ends as they emit their light rays captured by C2 , the
distance between those locations and the pinhole, and the angle they subtend at the
pinhole.

Solution:

(a) No. It takes time for the light to reach the camera once it leaves its source.

(b) Yes. The perpendicular distance does not change. So, the top and bottom of the rod
are equidistant from the pinhole, and to reach it at t = 0, the rays must have been
emitted at the same time in the past.

(c) The answer to (b) is yes!

 7

(d) No. Since the locations of the sources of the rays are farther from C2 (they have
negative x-coordinates) than the locations in C1 , they must have a smaller image.

Chapter 7 discusses this in gory mathematical detail! 

1.4. A circular ring emits light from all of its points simultaneously (in its rest frame) when
a remote switch is turned on. It is moving in a plane parallel to a photographic plate and
infinitesimally close to it. When it reaches the plate, the switch is turned on. What is the
shape of the image of the photograph? Hint: See Problem 1.1.

Solution: The diameter along the direction of motion shrinks; the diameter perpendicular
to the direction of motion stays the same. So, the shape is an ellipse flattened in the
direction of motion. 

1.5. A conveyor belt moving at relativistic speed carries cookie dough. A circular stamp
cuts out cookies as the dough rushes by beneath it. What is the shape of these cookies?
Are they flattened in the direction of the belt, stretched in that direction, or circular?

Solution: The answer is identical to that of the previous problem. So, the cookies are
flattened in the direction of the belt. 

1.6. A conveyor belt moving at relativistic speed carries cookie dough. A laser gun one
meter above the belt emits a beam in the shape of the surface of a circular cone that
cuts the dough perpendicularly. Are these cookies flattened in the direction of the belt,
stretched in that direction, or circular? Hint: Concentrate on the two ends of the diameter
of the beam along the dough, and note that their light beams arrive simultaneously at the
stationary bed on which the dough is moving. Now consider how the two events appear
in the RF of the moving dough and what implication it has on the length of the diameter.
The discussion surrounding Figure 1.3 may be helpful.

Solution: The image of the laser beam on the stationary bed is circular and the two
events of the arrival of the beams from the two ends of the horizontal diameter occur
simultaneously. Consider two experiments. In the first experiment, there is no dough and
the laser imprints a circle on the stationary bed. In the second experiment, an observer
riding with the dough records the coincidence of the location of the event in front of her
with the front end of the imprint before the coincidence of the event in the back. She
concludes that for her, the distance between the two events is larger than the two marks
on the stationary bed. So, the image is an ellipse elongated along the direction of the belt.
Thus, the cookies are stretched in the direction of the belt. 

1.7. A circular ring is centered at the origin in the xy-plane. A pinhole camera C1 is located
on the z-axis and takes a picture of the stationary ring. Now the ring starts moving along
the x-axis from −∞. Camera C1 is removed and another pinhole camera C2 replaces it on
the z-axis. As soon as the center of the rod reaches the origin (at t = 0), C2 takes a picture.

(a) Is the pinhole of C2 collecting the light rays from the two ends of the horizontal
diameter (along the x-axis) of the ring that were emitted at t = 0? Hint: Look at
Problem 1.2.

(b) Is the pinhole of C2 collecting the light rays from the two ends of the horizontal
diameter of the ring that were emitted simultaneously, but not at t = 0?
8 Qualitative Relativity

(c) If the answer to (b) is no, which end emitted its light first, the trailing end or the
leading end?

(d) Is it possible for the image of the horizontal diameter in C2 to be longer than its
image in C1 ?

(e) Is the image of the vertical diameter (along the y-axis) in C2 equal to, longer than,
or shorter than its image in C1 ? Hint: Look at Problem 1.3.

(f) Can you guess what the shape of the image of the ring is in C2 ?

Solution:

(a) No.

(b) No.

(c) The trailing end.

(d) Yes, it always is.

(e) It is shorter than its image in C1 .

(f) It is an ellipse elongated along the direction of motion.

See Example 2.2.6 for a quantitative analysis of this problem. 

 CHAPTER 2

Relativity of Time and Space

Problems With Solutions

2.1. Take the most rigid rod you can find, and hit one end of it with the hammer. The
rod as a whole starts to move because it is rigid.1 Actually not! It takes time for the
information that one end of the rod was hit to reach the other end, because of Note 2.1.7.
Now go to the rest frame of the rod which is now moving relative to the hammer. Assume
that the hammer hits the rod in such a way as to cause (the front end of) it to stop. But
the other end knows nothing about the hammer yet. So, it keeps moving! What does this
say about the concept of “rigidity” in relativity?

Solution: Rigidity is not a well defined concept in relativity. The other end of the rod gets
compressed because of its motion. 

2.2. In this problem you’ll learn more about superluminal transverse speeds.

(a) Show that the angle that maximizes Equation (2.6) is given by cos θ = β.

(b) Substitute this in (2.6) to obtain (vtr )max = cβγ.

√
(c) Show that (vtr )max is larger than c for any β > 1/ 2.

(d) What speed makes (vtr )max ten times faster than light? What is the angle corre-
sponding to this speed?

Solution:

(a) Set the derivative of vtr

0 cβ(cos θ − β)
vtr (θ) =
(β cos θ − 1)2
00 (θ) < 0 when
equal to zero to get cos θ = β. The second derivative test shows that vtr
cos θ = β. Therefore, vtr is indeed maximum at cos θ = β.
1
If you hit one end of a slinky, the other end does not move, at least not immediately.
10 Relativity of Time and Space

(b) p
sin θ 1 − β2 cβ
(vtr )max = cβ = cβ 2
=p = cβγ.
1 − β cos θ 1−β 1 − β2
(c)
cβγ > c ⇐⇒ β 2 γ 2 > 1 ⇐⇒ β 2 > 1 − β 2 ⇐⇒ β 2 > 1/2.

(d)
βγ = 10 ⇐⇒ β 2 γ 2 = 100 ⇐⇒ β 2 = 100 − 100β 2 ⇐⇒ β 2 = 100/101,
or if β = 0.995. The angle corresponding to this β is θ = cos−1 0.995 = 0.0997 or
θ = 5.71◦ .

2.3. Consider an MM clock moving horizontally with speed β relative to observer O. Denote
its length in motion by L and at rest by L0 . Let ∆t1 be the time it takes light to go from
the emitter to the mirror according to O. Let ∆t2 be the time it takes light to go from the
mirror to the emitter according to O.
(a) Show that
c∆t1 = L + βc∆t1 , c∆t2 = L − βc∆t2 .

(b) Show that a “tick” according to O is

2L/c
∆t = ∆t1 + ∆t2 = .
1 − β2

(c) Now use the time dilation formula with ∆τ = 2L0 /c to derive the length contraction
formula.
Solution:
(a) By the time the light that is emitted at the emitter reaches the mirror, the MM clock
has moved. So, the distance that the light covers is L plus the distance that the MM
clock moves in the same time interval. So, c∆t1 = L + βc∆t1 , and
L
c∆t1 (1 − β) = L ⇐⇒ ∆t1 = .
c(1 − β)
On reflection, the light and the MM clock move in opposite directions. Therefore,
c∆t2 = L − βc∆t2 , and
L
c∆t2 (1 + β) = L ⇐⇒ ∆t2 = .
c(1 + β)

(b) A tick according to O is therefore,

L L 2L/c
∆t = ∆t1 + ∆t2 = + = .
c(1 − β) c(1 + β) 1 − β2
But ∆t = γ∆τ = γ(2L0 /c). Thus,
2L/c p
γ(2L0 /c) = 2
= γ 2 (2L/c) ⇐⇒ L = L0 /γ = L0 1 − β 2 .
1−β


 11

2.4. The spaceship Enterprise goes to a planet in a star system far away with a speed of
0.9c, spends 6 months on the planet, and comes back with a speed of 0.95c. The entire trip
takes 5 years for the crew.

(a) How far is the planet according to Earth observers?

(b) How long did it take the crew to get to the planet?

(c) How long did the entire trip take for the Earth observers?

Solution:
√
(a) On the outbound part, √ the distance for the crew is L0 1 − 0.92 and the time it takes
them to get there is L0 1 − 0.92 /(0.9c), where L0 is the distance√according to Earth
observers. Similarly, the time it takes them to come back is L0 1 − 0.952 /(0.95c).
So, the entire round trip time is
√ √
L0 1 − 0.92 L0 1 − 0.952
+ = 4.5 years.
0.9c 0.95c
This gives L0 = 5.54 light years.

(b) √
L0 1 − 0.92
∆τoutbound = = 0.484 years.
0.9c
(c) The distance according to Earth is 5.54 light years. So, for outbound trip
5.54 light years
∆toutbound = = 6.15 years.
0.9c
Similarly,
5.54 light years
∆tinbound = = 5.83 years.
0.95c
Therefore the entire trip takes 6.15 + 0.5 + 5.83 = 12.48 years.

2.5. A rocket ship leaves the Earth at a speed of 0.8c. When a clock on the rocket says 1
hour has elapsed, the rocket ship sends a light signal back to Earth.

(a) According to Earth clocks, when was the signal sent?

(b) According to Earth clocks, how long after the rocket left did the signal arrive back
on Earth?

(c) According to the rocket clock, how long after the rocket left did the signal arrive back
on Earth?

Solution:

(a) The rocket is measuring the proper time of 1 hour. So, for Earth
1 hour
∆t = γ∆τ = √ = 1.67 hours.
1 − 0.82
12 Relativity of Time and Space

(b) The distance of the rocket from Earth when it sends the signal is

1.67 hours × 0.8c = 1.33 light hours.

So, it took 1.33 hours for the signal to arrive at Earth after it was sent. Therefore,
between the rocket leaving and the signal arriving, it took 1.33 + 1.67 = 3 hours
according to Earth. Note that this is proper time for Earth.

(c) The rocket measures coordinate time:

3 hour
∆trocket = √ = 5 hours.
1 − 0.82

It is a good exercise to find the answer to (c) by calculating in the rocket frame. Note that
the Earth moves at 0.8c away from the rocket. So, when the rocket sends the signal, the
Earth is at a distance of 0.8 light hour from rocket. Now the rocket sends a signal that
chases the Earth. When does the light catch up with Earth according to rocket? 

2.6. A bicycle wheel of rest radius R is rotating in such a way that the rim has a linear
speed of 0.866c. What is the circumference of the rim? What is the length of the spokes
in motion? But spokes are perpendicular to the direction of motion! Discuss whether in
relativity anything can be considered “incompressible” or “rigid.” See also Problem 2.1.

Solution: For the same reason as Problem 2.1, the spokes are not “rigid.” 

2.7. The spaceship Viking goes to a planet in a star system 30 light years away from Earth
with a speed of 0.99c, spends 1 year on the planet, and then returns home. The entire trip
takes 10 years for the crew.

(a) How far is the planet according to crew?

(b) How long does it take the crew to get to the planet?

(c) How long does it take the crew to return to Earth?

(d) What is the speed of the crew on return? Warning! The distance for the crew is not
the same as the distance on their way to the planet.

(e) How far is the Earth from the planet according to crew on their return?

(f) How long did the entire trip take for the Earth observers?

Solution:
√
(a) L = 30 1 − .992 = 4.23 light years.

(b) The distance is 4.23 light years, and they are going at 0.99c, so it takes them 4.23/0.99,
or 4.27 years to get there.

(c) Since the entire trip is 10 years, the return time is 10 − 4.27 − 1 = 4.73 years.
 13
p
2
(d) Let β2 be the speed of return.pThen the distance is 30 1 − β2 light years. And the
2
time, in terms of speed, is 30 1 − β2 /cβ2 . So, we have to solve the equation
p
30 1 − β22 light years
= 4.73 years.
cβ2
The answer comes out to be β2 = 0.988.
√
(e) L = 30 1 − 0.9882 = 4.67 light years.
(f)
30 light years 30 light years
+1+ = 61.67 years.
0.99c 0.988c

2.8. The spaceship Diracus goes to a planet in a star system with a speed whose Lorentz
factor is γ, spends 1 year on the planet, and then returns home with a speed whose Lorentz
factor is 4γ. The captain of the spaceship is 29 years old and has just had a newborn son.
The entire trip takes 11 years for the crew. The odometer of the spaceship shows that the
“milage” for the round trip is a quarter of the Earth-planet distance as measured by Earth
observers.
(a) What is the outbound speed? The inbound speed?
(b) What is the Earth-planet distance according to the Earth observers?
(c) What is the Earth-planet distance according to the crew on their way to the planet?
On their way back?
(d) How long does it take the crew to go to the planet? To return?
(e) Who is older, the son or the father when the ship lands on Earth? By how many
years?
Solution:
(a) Let L0 be the distance according to Earth. Then
L0 L0 L0
+ = .
γ 4γ 4
This gives γ = 5 and p √
γ2 − 1 24
βout = = = 0.98,
γ 5
and p √
(4γ)2 − 1 399
βin = = = 0.9987,
4γ 20
(b) The round trip time is 10 years. So,
Lout Lin L0 /γ L0 /(4γ)
+ = + = 10
βout βin βout βin
or
L0 L0
+ = 10.
5 × 0.98 20 × 0.9987
This gives L0 = 39.35 light years.
14 Relativity of Time and Space

(c) Lout = L0 /γ = 7.87 light years; Lin = L0 /(4γ) = 1.97 light years.

(d) ∆τout = Lout /cβout = 8.03 years; ∆τin = Lin /cβin = 1.97 years; and these two answers
are consistent with the roundtrip time being 10 years.

(e) ∆tout = L0 /cβout = 40.15 years; ∆tin = L0 /cβin = 39.4. So, the son is 40.15 + 1 +
39.4 = 80.55 years old, while the father is just 29 + 11 = 40 years old.

2.9. A rod of rest length L0 moves with speed v along the positive x0 -direction of observer
O0 . The rod makes an angle θ0 with respect to the x-axis of its rest frame.

(a) Find the length of the rod as measured by O0 .

(b) Find the angle θ the rod makes with the x0 -axis as measured by O0 .

Solution: The projections along the axes in the rest frame are

∆x = L0 cos θ0 , ∆y = L0 sin θ0 .

In the O0 frame, we have

∆x0 = ∆x 1 − (v/c)2 = L0 1 − (v/c)2 cos θ0 , ∆y 0 = L0 sin θ0

p p

(a) The length in O0 is

p q
L= (∆x0 )2 + (∆y 0 )2 = L20 [1 − (v/c)2 ] cos2 θ0 + L20 sin2 θ0
p
= L0 1 − β 2 cos2 θ0 , β ≡ v/c.

Note that the answer is consistent with the special cases θ0 = 0 and θ0 = π/2.

(b) p
∆x0 1 − β 2 cos θ0 cos θ0
cos θ = =p = p
L 2 2
1 − β cos θ0 γ 1 − β 2 cos2 θ0
or
∆y 0 sin θ0
tan θ = 0
=p = γ tan θ0 .
∆x 1 − (v/c)2 cos θ0

2.10. A flasher produces a flash of light every second when at rest. It is moving away from
you at 0.9c.

(a) How frequently does it flash according to you?

(b) By how much does the distance between you and the flasher increase between con-
secutive flashes?

(c) How long after the emission of a given flash does it reach you?

(d) How often do you receive the flashes?

Solution: The flasher keeps proper time.

 15

(a)
1s
∆t = √ = 2.294 s.
1 − 0.92
(b)
∆x = 0.9c × 2.294 s = 2.065 light second.

(c) From its emission, it takes the flash 2.065 seconds to reach you.

(d) The time intervals between flashes is the sum of the time interval between emissions
and the time it takes the flashes to reach you: 2.294 + 2.065 = 4.35 seconds.
Note that this is related to Doppler effect: Think of a flash as a wavefront. 
2.11. Charged pions are produced in many collisions in accelerators. They decay in their
rest frame according to
N (t) = N0 e−t/T ,
where T = 2.6×10−8 s is their mean life. A burst of charged pions is produced at the target
of an accelerator and it is observed that only one percent of them decay at a distance of
1 m from the target. What is the Lorentz factor for pions and how fast are they moving?
Solution: Note that t in the decay formula is proper time. So, we have to calculate things
in the rest frame of the pions. The the distance in the rest frame is L0 /γ. Therefore,
t = L0 /(γcβ), and
L0 p L0
0.99 = e−t/T = e−L0 /(γcβT ) ⇐⇒ ln(0.99) = − ⇐⇒ γβ = γ 2 − 1 = − .
γcβT ln(0.99)cT
This gives γ = 12.795 and β = 0.997. 
2.12. Derive Equations (2.8), (2.9), and (2.10).
Solution: Since xc < 0, the negative sign in the previous equation must be chosen. The
expression under square root sign can be written as

β 2 γ 2 (β 2 L2 + b2 + L2 /γ 2 ) = β 2 γ 2 b2 + L2 β 2 + 1 − β 2 = β 2 γ 2 (b2 + L2 )



This yields (2.8). For (2.9), we have

 
2
p
2 L p
xA = xc − L/γ = −β γL − βγ b2 + L2 2 2
− L/γ = −γ β L + 2 + β b + L .
γ
Equation (2.9) now follows immediately from the definition of γ in terms of β. Finally,
 p 2 p
c2 t2A = γ 2 L + β b2 + L2 + b2 = γ 2 L2 + γ 2 β 2 (b2 + L2 ) + 2γ 2 βL b2 + L2 + b2
p
= γ 2 L2 + (γ 2 − 1)b2 + γ 2 β 2 L2 + 2γ 2 βL b2 + L2 + b2
p
= γ 2 (L2 + b2 ) + γ 2 β 2 L2 + 2γ 2 βL b2 + L2
h p i  p 2
= γ 2 (L2 + b2 ) + β 2 L2 + 2βL b2 + L2 = γ 2 βL + b2 + L2 .

When taking the square root, the negative sign is chosen because the light from A was
emitted in the past. 
16 Relativity of Time and Space

2.13. Derive Equations (2.11) and (2.12).

Solution: Just as in the case of A, write

p
|x0c | (x0c + L/γ)2 + b2
⇐⇒ |x0c | = β (x0c + L/γ)2 + b2 .
p
=
v c
Squaring both sides gives

x0c2 2β 2 L 0
x0c2 = β 2 (x0c2 + L2 /γ 2 + 2x0c L/γ + b2 ) ⇐⇒ − xc − β 2 (b2 + L2 /γ 2 ) = 0.
γ2 γ
Solve this quadratic equation for xc to obtain

x0c = β 2 γL ± β 4 γ 2 L2 + β 2 γ 2 (b2 + L2 /γ 2 ).
p

The negative sign must be chosen because x0c < 0. The rest of the solution is identical to
the previous problem. In fact, all the answers are obtained from that problem by changing
the sign of L. 

2.14. Derive Equations (2.14) and (2.15).

p
Solution: Square both sides of |xc | = β (b + L)2 + x2c to get

x2c
x2c = β 2 [(b + L)2 + x2c ] = β 2 x2c + β 2 (b + L)2 ⇐⇒ (1 − β 2 )x2c = = β 2 (b + L)2 .
γ2
Take the square root and chose the negative sign to get the answer. For x0c , just change L
to −L. 

2.15. Derive Equation (2.16).

p
Solution: For an arbitrary point, you square both sides of |x| = β (b − z)2 + x2 . Then

x2
x2 = β 2 [(b − z)2 + x2 ] = β 2 x2 + β 2 (b − z)2 ⇐⇒ = β 2 (b − z)2 .
γ2
Take the square root to get x = ±γβ|b − z|. Choosing the negative sign and noting that
|b − z| = b − z, you obtain the answer. 

2.16. Find tA and tB , the times at which A and B emit their light rays when the rod is
oriented along the z-axis as in Example 2.2.4.

Solution: A and B have coordinates (xc , 0, −L) and (x0c , 0, L), respectively. So, their
distances, |ctA | and |ctB | from the camera are given by

c2 t2A = x2c + (b + L)2 , c2 t2B = x0c2 + (b − L)2 .

I’ll find the first one, leaving the second for you. From (2.14), we have

c2 t2A = γ 2 β 2 (b + L)2 + (b + L)2 = (γ 2 β 2 + 1)(b + L)2 = γ 2 (b + L)2 .

Therefore, ctA = −γ(b + L). Similarly, ctB = −γ(b − L). Note that b > L. 

2.17. Derive Equation (2.17).

 17
p
Solution: From |x| = β x2 + y 2 + b2 , you get

x2 x2
x2 = β 2 (x2 + y 2 + b2 ) ⇐⇒ = β 2 2
(y + b2
) ⇐⇒ − y 2 = b2 ,
γ2 γ2β2
and the final form follows immediately. 

2.18. In Example 2.2.5, find tA and tB , the times at which A and B emit their light rays
when the rod is oriented along the y-axis.

Solution: Let tP be the time that the light from an arbitrary point P of the rod with
coordinates (x, y, 0) was emitted. Then using the results of the example, you have
p x2
c2 t2P =
x2 + y 2 + b2 = 2 = γ 2 (y 2 + b2 ).
β
p √
Therefore, ctP = −γ y 2 + b2 . Thus, ctA = ctB = −γ L2 + b2 . 

2.19. Derive Equations (2.20) and (2.21).

Solution: From x2c = β 2 x2 + a2 − γ 2 (x − xc )2 + b2 , you get

 

x2c = β 2 x2 + a2 − γ 2 x2 − γ 2 x2c + 2xγ 2 xc + b2

or
x2c (1 + β 2 γ 2 ) − 2xβ 2 γ 2 xc − β 2 a2 + b2 − β 2 γ 2 x2 = 0

or
γ 2 x2c − 2xβ 2 γ 2 xc − β 2 a2 + b2 − β 2 γ 2 x2 = 0.

The solution is
p
xβ 2 γ 2 ±x2 β 4 γ 4 + β 2 γ 2 (a2 + b2 − β 2 γ 2 x2 )
xc =
γ2
p √
xβ 2 γ 2 ± γβ x2 β 2 γ 2 + a2 + b2 − β 2 γ 2 x2 xβ 2 γ 2 ± γβ a2 + b2
= = .
γ2 γ2

Choosing the negative sign gives (2.20). Then

√
βp 2
2 2
x + βγ a2 + b2
x − xc = x − β x + a +b = .
γ γ2

Substituting this in the equation of the ellipse (2.18) yields (2.21). 

 CHAPTER 3

Lorentz Transformation

Problems With Solutions

3.1. A line in the xz-plane has slope m and intercept b.
(a) Show that Equation (3.5) maps this line onto a line in the x0 z 0 -plane.

(b) What are the slope and the intercept of the line in the x0 z 0 -plane?

(c) Show that the transformation

x0 = a0 + a1 x + a2 z, z 0 = b0 + b1 x2 + b2 z

transforms a straight line in the xz-plane into a parabola in the x0 z 0 -plane.

Solution: The equation of the line is z = mx + b.
(a) Substitute for z in (3.5) to get

x0 = a0 + a1 x + a2 mx + a2 b, z 0 = b0 + b1 x + b2 mx + b2 b.

Find x from first equation

x0 − a0 − a2 b
x=
a1 + a2 m
and substitute it in the second
x0 − a0 − a2 b
z 0 = b0 + b2 b + (b1 + b2 m) ,
a1 + a2 m
or
b1 + b2 m 0 (b1 + b2 m)(a0 + a2 b)
z0 = x + b0 + b2 b − .
a1 + a2 m a1 + a2 m
(b) The slope m0 and the intercept b0 are
b1 + b2 m (b1 + b2 m)(a0 + a2 b)
m0 = , b0 = b0 + b2 b − .
a1 + a2 m a1 + a2 m
20 Lorentz Transformation

(c) Substitute z = mx + b in the equations as before

x0 = a0 + (a1 + a2 m)x + a2 b, z 0 = b0 + b1 x2 + b2 mx + b2 b.

Find x from the first and plug it in the second

x − a0 − a2 b 2
 0
x0 − a0 − a2 b

0
z = b0 + b1 + b2 m + b2 b.
a1 + a2 m a1 + a2 m

Expanding and collecting terms, you get an expression of the form z 0 = Ax0 2 +Bx0 +C,
which is the equation of a parabola.

3.2. Start with Equation (3.6) and provide all the missing steps that lead to Equation
(3.8).

Solution: Most of the missing steps are actually explained in the textbook. 

3.3. Derive Equation (3.10).

√
Solution: With e = tan α, we get 1 + e2 = sec α and
1 e tan α
√ = cos α, √ = = sin α.
1 + e2 1 + e2 sec α


3.4. Use Figure 3.5 to prove the coordinate transformation

x0 = a + x cos α − y sin α
y 0 = b + x sin α + y cos α.

Solution: Refer to Figure 3.1 of the manual. I’ll do the first equation. The second one is
very similar.

x0 = O0 A0 = O0 A + AA0 = a + OD − CD
= a + x cos α − QR = a + x cos α − y sin α.

3.5. In Euclidean space, the locus of points equidistant from the origin of a plane is a circle.
What is the locus of points equidistant (in the spacetime distance sense) from the origin of
a spacetime plane?
p p
Solution: Instead of x2 + y 2 = R, we now have (ct)2 − x2 = R, or (ct)2 − x2 = R2 ,
which is a hyperbola. 

3.6. Verify that LT preserves the spacetime distance (3.13). In other words, if E1 and E2
are two events with coordinates (x1 , ct1 ) and (x2 , ct2 ) in O and (x01 , ct01 ) and (x02 , ct02 ) in O0 ,
where the primed coordinates are obtained from the unprimed coordinates by an LT, then

c2 (t02 − t01 )2 − (x02 − x01 )2 = c2 (t2 − t1 )2 − (x2 − x1 )2 .

 21

yʹ
y
Hʹ
P
Bʹ
x
Q
R
H
α
B C D
b O
a xʹ
Oʹ A Aʹ

Figure 3.1: The same point P has different pairs of coordinates in different coordinate systems. Note
that a = O0 A and b = O0 B.

Solution: To save writing use notations like ∆t21 = t2 − t1 , etc. Then

c∆t021 = γ(c∆t21 + β∆x21 ), ∆x021 = γ(∆x21 + βc∆t21 )

and

c2 ∆t0212 = γ 2 (c2 ∆t221 + β 2 ∆x221 + 2cβ∆t21 ∆x21 )

∆x0212 = γ 2 (∆x221 + β 2 c2 ∆t221 + 2cβ∆t21 ∆x21 ).

Subtracting the second from the first gives

c2 ∆t0212 − ∆x0212 = γ 2 (c2 ∆t221 − ∆x221 ) − γ 2 β 2 (c2 ∆t221 − ∆x221 ).

Now invoke the very useful identity γ 2 β 2 = γ 2 − 1. 

3.7. Starting with (3.19), show that the origin of O0 has the coordinates

x0 = γ(−x00 + βct00 )
ct0 = γ(βx00 − ct00 )

relative to O. Show also that the inverse of Equation (3.19) can be written as

x = x0 + γ(x0 − βct0 )
ct = ct0 + γ(βx0 + ct0 ).

Solution: Set the left-hand side of (3.19) equal to zero and solve for x and ct, which are
now labeled x0 and ct0 :

0 = x00 + γ(x0 + βct0 )

0 = ct00 + γ(βx0 + ct0 ).

Multiply the second equation by β and subtract it from the first:

x0
0 = x00 − βct00 + γ(1 − β 2 )x0 ⇐⇒ 0 = x00 − βct00 + .
γ
The first equation now follows trivially. The second equation is obtained similarly.
22 Lorentz Transformation

To obtain the inverse of Equation (3.19), multiply the second equation by β and subtract
it from the first:

x0 − βct0 = x00 − βct00 + γ(1 − β 2 )x ⇐⇒ γ(x0 − βct0 ) = γ(x00 − βct00 ) +x.

| {z }
=−x0

This yields the first inverse equation. The second inverse equation is derived similarly. 

3.8. A ruler of length L is at rest in O with its left end at the origin. O moves from left
to right with speed β relative to O0 along the length of the ruler. The two origins coincide
at time zero for both, at which time a photon is emitted toward the other end of the ruler.
What are the coordinates in O0 of the event at which the photon reaches the other end?

Solution: The event has coordinates c(L/c), L = (L, L) in O. Therefore, in O0 , it has

coordinates
s
1+β
ct0 = γ(L + βL) = L
1−β
s
1+β
x0 = γ(L + βL) = L,
1−β

verifying that light travels with the same speed in both RFs.
There is another way of obtaining the same answer not using Lorentz transformation.
The length of the rod in O0 is L/γ. As the light catches up with the other end of the rod
in time t0 , the rod moves a distance of βct0 . Therefore,
p s
L L 1 − β 2L 1+β
ct0 = + βct0 ⇐⇒ (1 − β)ct0 = ⇐⇒ ct0 = = L.
γ γ 1−β 1−β

The location of the event is where the leading end of the rod is when the light catches up
with it. The leading end was at L/γ at t0 = 0 and it moved a distance of βct0 , so
s
L 1+β
x0 = + βct0 = ct0 = L.
γ 1−β

I hope you appreciate the power of Lorentz transformation. Once you identify the coordi-
nates of an event, Lorentz transformation takes care of the rest! 

3.9. Start with the inverse LT and derive the time dilation (corresponding to ∆x = 0) and
length contraction (corresponding to ∆t0 = 0) formulas.

Solution: With
∆x = γ(∆x0 − βc∆t0 ), c∆t = γ(c∆t0 − β∆x0 ), (3.1)
∆t0 = 0 immediately gives the length contraction formula:
∆x p
∆x = γ∆x0 ⇐⇒ ∆x0 = = 1 − β 2 ∆x,
γ

remembering that ∆x is moving in O0 .

Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
 ¹And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all
Israel were come to Shechem to make him
king.
1. Shechem] Chosen by Rehoboam for its central position, for it
is in the heart of Western Palestine between Mt Ebal and Mt
Gerizim.

²And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son

of Nebat heard of it, (for he was in Egypt,
whither he had fled from the presence of king
Solomon,) that Jeroboam returned out of
Egypt. ³And they sent and called him; and
Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spake
to Rehoboam, saying,
2. Jeroboam] For his antecedents (which are not given by the
Chronicler) see 1 Kings xi. 26 ff.

that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt] So we should read also in 1

Kings xii. 2 for “and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt.” The difference in
Hebrew between the two readings when written without the vowels is
confined to one letter, ‫ מ‬instead of ‫ב‬.

⁴Thy father made our yoke grievous: now

therefore make thou the grievous service of
thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put
upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee. ⁵And
he said unto them, Come again unto me after
three days. And the people departed.
 4. the grievous service of thy father] The “service” complained of
is described (in part) in 1 Kings v. 13, 14 (no parallel in Chronicles).
Compare viii. 9 (= 1 Kings ix. 22), note.

and we will serve thee] The people claim their ancient right to a
voice in the appointment of a king; compare 1 Samuel xi. 14, 15
(Saul) and 2 Samuel v. 1‒3 (David).

⁶And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old

men, that had stood before Solomon his father
while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give
ye me to return answer to this people?
6. stood before] Compare Deuteronomy i. 38; 1 Kings xvii. 1. The
phrase is used to express service, whether rendered to God or to
man.

⁷And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be

kind to this people, and please them, and
speak good words to them, then they will be
thy servants forever. ⁸But he forsook the
counsel of the old men which they had given
him, and took counsel with the young men that
were grown up with him, that stood before
him. ⁹And he said unto them, What counsel
give ye, that we may return answer to this
people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make
the yoke that thy father did put upon us
lighter? ¹⁰And the young men that were grown
up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus
shalt thou say unto the people that spake unto
 thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy,
but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt
thou say unto them, My little finger is thicker
than my father’s loins.
7. If thou be kind to this people, and please them] The Chronicler
has softened the forcible words of the parallel passage (1 Kings xii.
7), “If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve
them.” The words which were too blunt for Rehoboam were also too
blunt for the Chronicler.

¹¹And now whereas my father did lade you

with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my
father chastised you with whips, but I will
chastise you with scorpions. ¹²So Jeroboam
and all the people came to Rehoboam the
third day, as the king bade, saying, Come to
me again the third day.
11. with whips] A whip or flail was among the insignia of an
Egyptian (and perhaps also of an Israelite) king. Compare Erman,
Ancient Egypt, English Translation p. 60 (where an illustration is
given) and p. 63.

with scorpions] The expression may be proverbial and

metaphorical, but some authorities (e.g. Peshitṭa) take “scorpion” to
be the name of a particular kind of scourge, the lash of which was
provided with thorns or hooks.

¹³And the king answered them roughly; and

king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old
men, and spake to them after the counsel of
the young men, saying, My father made your
 yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father
chastised you with whips, but I will chastise
you with scorpions.
13. answered them roughly] It was difficult for the son of so
powerful a king as Solomon to realise that there was any necessity
for a soft answer. Solomon had put down Israelite discontent by
driving Jeroboam into exile in Egypt, and David had put down
somewhat easily the movement under Sheba son of Bichri (2
Samuel xx. 1‒22). Could the good fortune of the house of David fail
at this third crisis?

¹⁵So the king hearkened not unto the people;

for it was brought about of God, that the Lord
might establish his word, which he spake by
the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam
the son of Nebat.
15. Ahijah] Compare 1 Kings xi. 29‒39. The incident referred to is
not narrated in Chronicles, being assumed to be known.

16‒19 (= 1 Kings xii. 16‒19).

The Revolt.

¹⁶And when all Israel saw that the king

hearkened not unto them, the people
answered the king, saying, What portion have
we in David? neither have we inheritance in
the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O
Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So
all Israel departed unto their tents.
 16. What portion have we in David ... the son of Jesse] The same
protest was voiced by Sheba in his brief rebellion against David (1
Samuel xx. 1). Contrast the language of the ten tribes after the
collapse of Absalom’s rebellion: We have ten parts in the king (2
Samuel xix. 43).

to your tents] See note on vii. 10.

¹⁷But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in

the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over
them.
17. The order is much improved if this verse be read after verse
19.

¹⁸Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who

was over the levy; and the children of Israel
stoned him with stones, that he died. And king
Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his
chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. ¹⁹So Israel
rebelled against the house of David, unto this
day.
18. Hadoram] Called “Adoram” in the parallel passage (1 Kings
xii. 18) and “Adoniram” (1 Kings iv. 6, v. 14 [28, Hebrew]).
 Chapter XI.
1‒4 (= 1 Kings xii. 21‒24).
Shemaiah forbids Civil War.

The Chronicler here omits the elevation of Jeroboam to be king

over Israel (1 Kings xii. 20).

¹And when Rehoboam was come to

Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah
and Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore
thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to
fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again
to Rehoboam.
1. an hundred and fourscore thousand] The number is small
compared with the Judean armies mentioned in xiii. 3, xiv. 7, xvii. 14;
yet it is far greater than is credible. The word rendered thousand
may originally have been used to denote a tribal division, thus
including women and children and old men. If so, the actual warriors
represented by 180 such “thousands” would be about 30,000, a very
large number for so small a state, yet not impossible. But, however
that may be for the early days, there is little or no doubt that the
Chronicler understood the word in its strict sense: a literal thousand.
See the note on xvii. 14.

²But the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah

the man of God, saying,
2. Shemaiah] See xii. 5, 15.
 ³Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon,
king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and
Benjamin, saying, ⁴Thus saith the Lord, Ye
shall not go up, nor fight against your
brethren: return every man to his house; for
this thing is of me. So they hearkened unto the
words of the Lord, and returned from going
against Jeroboam.
3. to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin] The Chronicler does not
hesitate to use the term “Israel” in speaking of Judah. Thus the
princes of the Southern Kingdom are called “the princes of Israel”
(xii. 6, xxi. 4), the populace as a whole is called “Israel” (xii. 1, xv.
17), Jehoshaphat and Ahaz are each called “king of Israel” (xxi. 2,
xxviii. 19), and the sepulchres of the kings at Jerusalem are called
the “sepulchres of the kings of Israel” (xxviii. 27). Israel in Chronicles
then = the covenant-people. In Kings, on the contrary, Israel
generally means the Northern Kingdom.

5‒23.
The Prosperity of Rehoboam.

These verses have no corresponding section in 1 Kings On the

other hand, the Chronicler omits three important sections of 1 Kings,
viz. xii. 25‒33 (the setting up of the golden calves), xiii. 1‒32 (the
episode of the prophet who cried against the altar in Beth-el) and xiv.
1‒18 (the death of the son of Jeroboam).

⁵And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built

cities for defence in Judah.
5. built cities for defence] This does not mean that all these cities
were then built for the first time; certainly Beth-lehem, Tekoa, and
Hebron were ancient places. Rebuilding, strengthening, and
fortifying are included in the meaning of the Hebrew verb bānāh =
build. The cities mentioned were situated some in the hill country of
Judah, some in the Shephelah. It is probable that they were
strengthened as a measure of defence against Egypt. Less likely is
the suggestion that they were fortified chiefly to prevent or suppress
insurrection against Rehoboam in Judah. See also Introduction § 7,
p. xlviii.

⁶He built even Beth-lehem, and Etam, and

Tekoa,
6. Etam] Probably represented by some ruins a little to the south-
west of Beth-lehem, by which is a spring called Ain ‘Atān. Compare 1
Chronicles iv. 3. Bädeker, Palestine⁵, p. 109.

⁷and Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,

7. Beth-zur] Represented by the ruin Burj Ṣūr to the north of
Hebron. Compare Joshua xv. 58. Bädeker, Palestine⁵, p. 112.

Soco] The cities hitherto mentioned were situated in the hill

country, but the position of the Soco here mentioned and Adullam is
uncertain. Two places bore the name Soco or Socoh, one situated in
the Shephelah (Joshua xv. 35; 1 Samuel xvii. 1, Revised Version),
and one in the hill country (“the mountains,” Joshua xv. 48)—see
note 1 Chronicles iv. 18. For Adullam compare Joshua xv. 35; 1
Chronicles xi. 15 (note on the cave of Adullam).

⁸and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,

8. Gath] compare 1 Chronicles xviii. 1.

Mareshah] In the Shephelah south of the modern Beit Jibrin.

Compare xiv. 9, xx. 37.

Ziph] Probably Tell Zif south of Hebron.

 ⁹and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
9. Adoraim] The modern Dora west of Hebron.

Azekah] In the Shephelah, mentioned along with Socoh in

Joshua xv. 35.

¹⁰and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which

are in Judah and in Benjamin, fenced cities.
¹¹And he fortified the strong holds, and put
captains in them, and store of victual, and oil
and wine.
10. Zorah] Joshua xv. 33 (Revised Version). It was situated in the
Shephelah.

Aijalon] The modern Yalo, a little north of the Jaffa road about
midway between Ramleh and Jerusalem. It is an ancient place
mentioned in the Tell el-Amarna letters. Compare xxviii. 18 and 1
Chronicles vi. 69; also Smith, Historical Geography of the Holy Land
pp. 210‒213.

and in Benjamin] None of the fifteen cities seems to have been in

Benjamin. Zorah and Aijalon were in Dan (Joshua xix. 41, 42,
Revised Version), while the remaining thirteen were in Judah.
Compare verse 5.

Benjamin, in reality, belonged to the Northern Kingdom until, after

the fall of Samaria, its territory was included in the Judean kingdom
(see 1 Kings xii. 20). Later, the idea prevailed that it had been one
with the Southern Kingdom from the beginning—as appears here,
and apparently in 1 Kings xi. 31. At any rate the phrase, Judah and
Benjamin, came to be used as a general expression denoting the
Southern Kingdom. How long any sense of its partial inaccuracy
remained is uncertain.
 ¹²And in every several city he put shields and
spears, and made them exceeding strong.
And Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.
12. And Judah and Benjamin belonged to him] If the view,
discussed in the note on verse 5, that Rehoboam’s military
precautions were carried through to suppress or prevent rebellion in
Judah, then this phrase should be rendered And so Judah and
Benjamin became his.

¹³And the priests and the Levites that were in

all Israel resorted to him out of all their border.
13. resorted to him] Literally took their stand by him.

¹⁴For the Levites left their suburbs and their

possession, and came to Judah and
Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast
them off, that they should not execute the
priest’s office unto the Lord:
14. suburbs] See note on 1 Chronicles v. 16.

cast them off, that they should not execute the priest’s office unto
the Lord] The point is in the concluding words “unto the Lord” (i.e.
Jehovah). Jeroboam did not abandon the worship of Jehovah,
although later generations thought so and could not conceive that
the famous “calves wherewith he made Israel to sin” were images
symbolic of Jehovah. The Chronicler regards him as having lapsed
into gross idolatry (see verse 15) and as having ejected all the
Levites from his kingdom. A less stringent opinion as to his treatment
of the priests of Jehovah is expressed in 1 Kings xii. 31, xiii. 33
where it is not said that Jeroboam rejected the tribe of Levi, but only
that he allowed men of any tribe to become priests; “he ... made
priests from among all the people” (Revised Version). Comparison of
Kings and Chronicles is here very valuable as an illustration of the
care with which the history in Chronicles has been adapted to
indicate that the Northern Kingdom was wholly wicked and apostate
from the start. The Chronicler’s hostility to the North is really directed
against the Samaritans: see Introduction § 6.

¹⁵and he appointed him priests for the high

places, and for the he-goats ¹, and for the
calves which he had made. ¹⁶And after them,
out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their
hearts to seek the Lord, the God of Israel,
came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto the Lord,
the God of their fathers.
¹ Or, satyrs See Leviticus xvii. 7.

15. the he-goats] The heathen Arabs believed in the existence of

demons (called jinn) having various animal forms and inhabiting
deserted places, and this belief was shared by the Hebrews
(compare Isaiah xiii. 21). In this verse and in Leviticus xvii. 7, the
writers seem to identify the gods worshipped by the heathen with
these demons. (Compare W. R. Smith, Religion of the Semites², pp.
120 ff.)

the calves] Not previously mentioned in Chronicles; 1 Kings xii.

28.

¹⁷So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah,

and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon
strong, three years: for they walked three
years in the way of David and Solomon.
 17. three years] There were three years of prosperity, in the
fourth year Judah fell away into idolatry, and in the fifth year
chastisement overtook them by the hand of Shishak (xii. 1‒3). For
the significance of this, see the note on xii. 14.

of David and Solomon] The Chronicler here as elsewhere ignores

the fall of Solomon. In 1 Kings xi. 4‒6 an express distinction is made
between the way of David and the way of Solomon.

¹⁸And Rehoboam took him a wife, Mahalath

the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, and
of Abihail ¹ the daughter of Eliab the son of
Jesse; ¹⁹and she bare him sons; Jeush, and
Shemariah, and Zaham.
¹ Or, and Abihail.

18. Jerimoth] Nothing is known regarding a son of David of this

name. He may have been the son of a concubine (1 Chronicles iii.
9).

and of Abihail] i.e. Mahalath’s father was Jerimoth, her mother

Abihail. The Authorized Version “and Abihail” wrongly implies that
Abihail was, like Mahalath, a wife of Rehoboam.

Eliab] David’s eldest brother; 1 Samuel xvi. 6, xvii. 13.

²⁰And after her he took Maacah ¹ the daughter

of Absalom; and she bare him Abijah, and
Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith. ²¹And
Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of
Absalom above all his wives and his
concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and
 threescore concubines, and begat twenty and
eight sons and threescore daughters.) ²²And
Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of
Maacah to be chief, even the prince among
his brethren: for he was minded to make him
king.
¹ In chapter xiii. 2, Micaiah the daughter of Uriel.

20. Maacah] Perhaps the grand-daughter of Absalom, since she

is called the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah in xiii. 2 (where, with LXX.,
read “Maacah” for “Michaiah”; and see the note there). According to
2 Samuel xviii. 18 Absalom had “no son to keep his name in
remembrance” but he may have had a daughter who married Uriel
and became the mother of this Maacah; and further in 2 Samuel xiv.
27 it is said that Absalom had three sons and a daughter named
Tamar. These sons may all have died young, but perhaps xiv. 27 is
another tradition differing from xviii. 18.

Abijah] Called “Abijam” 1 Kings xv. 1.

²³And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his

sons throughout all the lands of Judah and
Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave
them victual in abundance. And he sought for
them many wives ¹.
¹ Or, sought a multitude of wives.

23. all the lands] i.e. the territory of Judah; compare 1 Chronicles
xiii. 2 (margin).
 And he sought for them many wives] More exactly, as margin,
And he sought a multitude of wives. It is difficult to say whether or
not the Chronicler has Deuteronomy xvii. 17 in his mind and is
implicitly blaming the king. In any case he goes on in the next verse
to say that Rehoboam forsook the law of the Lord. It is however
probable that there is a slight error in the Hebrew and that the text
ran originally thus, And he took for them (i.e. for his sons) a multitude
of wives. Rehoboam’s own conjugal affairs have been already
described in verse 21.

Chapter XII.
1‒12 (compare 1 Kings xiv. 22, 25‒28).
The Invasion of Shishak.

¹And it came to pass, when the kingdom of

Rehoboam was established, and he was
strong, that he forsook the law of the Lord,
and all Israel with him.
1. all Israel] i.e. all the Southern Kingdom; compare note on xi. 3.
The details of Judah’s apostasy are given in 1 Kings xiv. 22‒24.

²And it came to pass in the fifth year of king

Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came
up against Jerusalem, because they had
trespassed against the Lord,
2. Shishak] The Egyptian king has commemorated this expedition
in a pictorial inscription on the wall of the temple of Karnak. It
appears that the Northern Kingdom suffered as well as the Southern;
much spoil was carried off, but no permanent conquest of Canaan
was attempted. (Breasted, History of Egypt, pp. 529 f.)

because they had trespassed] A touch characteristic of the

Chronicler; compare xiii. 18, xxi. 10, xxiv. 24, xxv. 20, xxvii. 6, xxviii.
19; and 1 Chronicles x. 13, 14. The Chronicler sees the working of
temporal rewards and of temporal punishments everywhere.

³with twelve hundred chariots, and threescore

thousand horsemen: and the people were
without number that came with him out of
Egypt; the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the
Ethiopians.
3. with twelve hundred chariots] The details given in this verse
are absent from 1 Kings.

Lubim] i.e. the Libyans of North Africa. Shishak was a leader of

Libyan mercenaries. He made himself master of Egypt circa 950
b.c., and is known as the founder of the xxiind dynasty.

Sukkiim] LXX. Τρωγλοδύται, i.e. the cave dwellers of the

mountains which fringe the west coast of the Red Sea. But whether
these are really meant here is doubtful.

⁴And he took the fenced cities which pertained

to Judah, and came unto Jerusalem.
4. the fenced cities] Compare xi. 5.

⁵Now Shemaiah the prophet came to

Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that
were gathered together to Jerusalem because
of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the
 Lord, Ye have forsaken me, therefore have I
also left you in the hand of Shishak.
5. Now Shemaiah the prophet came] This intervention of
Shemaiah is not mentioned in 1 Kings For an earlier appearance of
the prophet see xi. 2 ff. = 1 Kings xii. 22 ff.

have I also left you in the hand] Rather, I also have forsaken
you and delivered you into the hand.

⁶Then the princes of Israel and the king

humbled themselves; and they said, The
Lord is righteous.
6. princes of Israel] Called “princes of Judah” in verse 5; compare
note on xi. 3.

humbled themselves] i.e. they fasted and put on sackcloth;

compare 1 Kings xxi. 27, 29.

The Lord is righteous] Compare Pharaoh’s confession (Exodus

ix. 27), and the Psalmist’s address to God, “That thou mayest be
justified (literally ‘mayest be righteous’) when thou speakest, and be
clear when thou judgest” (Psalms li. 4). The “righteousness” of God
is made known to man in His judgement, whether the judgement be
of condemnation (as here) or of acquittal (as 1 John i. 9, Revised
Version).

⁷And when the Lord saw that they humbled

themselves, the word of the Lord came to
Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled
themselves; I will not destroy them: but I will
grant them some deliverance ¹, and my wrath
 shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the
hand of Shishak.
¹ Or, deliverance within a little while Or, a few that shall escape.

7. some deliverance] Render, as margin, deliverance within a

little while.

⁸Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that

they may know my service, and the service of
the kingdoms of the countries.
8. that they may know my service, etc.] i.e. that they may learn
the difference between my service and other service.

⁹So Shishak king of Egypt came up against

Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the
house of the Lord, and the treasures of the
king’s house; he took all away: he took away
also the shields of gold which Solomon had
made.
9. he took all away] Shishak was bought off with a heavy present
from attacking Jerusalem; compare the case of Sennacherib (2
Kings xviii. 13‒16).

shields] Rather, targets, i.e. small shields; compare note on ix.

15.

¹⁰And king Rehoboam made in their stead

shields of brass, and committed them to the
hands of the captains of the guard ¹, that kept
 the door of the king’s house. ¹¹And it was so,
that as oft as the king entered into the house
of the Lord, the guard came and bare them,
and brought them back into the guard
chamber.
¹ Hebrew runners.

10. the guard] margin (more literally) the runners. These derived
their name from the duty of running before the king’s chariot to clear
the way for him; compare 2 Samuel xv. 1; 1 Kings i. 5.

¹²And when he humbled himself, the wrath of

the Lord turned from him, that he would not
destroy him altogether: and moreover in
Judah there were good things found.
12. in Judah were good things found] i.e. piety, compare xix. 3.
This is said as giving an additional reason for the mercy which God
had showed (verse 7). Doubtless it is also intended to emphasise the
religious superiority of the South over the North; compare the note
on xi. 20.

13‒16 (compare 1 Kings xiv. 21, 29‒31).

Summary of Rehoboam’s Reign.

¹³So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in

Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was
forty and one years old when he began to
reign, and he reigned seventeen years in
Jerusalem, the city which the Lord had
chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his
 name there: and his mother’s name was
Naamah the Ammonitess.
13. strengthened himself] See note on i. 1. The immediate
reference is to a recovery of strength after the departure of Shishak;
the further reference is to xi. 5.

forty and one years old ... and he reigned seventeen years] So
read both the Hebrew and LXX. here and in 1 Kings xiv. 21, but in
the additional passage which follows 1 Kings xii. 24 in LXX. (B, not
A) we read, sixteen years old ... and twelve years he reigned. No
importance however can be attached to this variation, for the
passage which contains it is plainly midrashic in character.

the city which the Lord had chosen] Though the Ten Tribes were
lost to the house of David, the Lord kept his oath to David by
securing to his seed the possession of the one holy city of Israel.

¹⁴And he did that which was evil, because he

set not his heart to seek the Lord.
14. he set not his heart] The phrase implies steady purpose. The
Chronicler concludes that Rehoboam must be classed as a king who
was good but not entirely so. The considerations which chiefly
influenced him in determining the character of this reign were
perhaps two: on the one hand the invasion of Shishak was felt to be
a fixed point, a disaster only to be accounted for in the Chronicler’s
view by some falling away from assiduous worship of Jehovah; and
on the other hand it seemed incredible that the second direct
descendant of David on the throne of Israel should have been
seriously corrupt. The situation was met by representing Rehoboam
as having been three years faithful (and therefore prosperous), and
one year faithless (and therefore assailed by Shishak in the fifth
year). The favourable aspect of his reign was further emphasised by
the statement of verse 16, and by the suppression of the three
damaging passages in Kings, referred to in the head-note to xi. 5‒
23. It is very obvious that the resultant picture of the king is much
less true to historical reality than the account in Kings; but it serves
excellently to illustrate the Chronicler’s contention that virtue
prospers and vice is punished. And once more we may insist that the
value of this writer for us lies supremely in the energy and the
conviction with which he seeks to drive home this great moral and
spiritual belief.

¹⁵Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last,

are they not written in the histories ¹ of
Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer,
after the manner of genealogies ²? And there
were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam
continually. ¹⁶And Rehoboam slept with his
fathers, and was buried in the city of David:
and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.
¹ Hebrew words. ² Or, in reckoning the genealogies.

15. in the histories of ...] See Introduction § 5.

Iddo] compare xiii. 22, and see note on ix. 29.

after the manner of genealogies] margin in reckoning the

genealogies; but literally “to enrol themselves.” This most obscure
phrase is perhaps a meaningless fragment due to textual corruption.
Another suggestion is that it has been misplaced and should be read
at the end of xi. 16.