Relativity-HW

Q1
Lets use the Lorentz transformation to derive some famous relativity results.
(a) Moving clock is slower. Consider a clock placed at x = 0 in the frame which is at rest.
Let two events be:
Event-1 the long arm of the clock strikes number 12 at t1 = 0;
Event-2 the long arm of the clock strikes number 1 at t2 = 300 s;
Find the times t1' and t 2' as seen in another frame S which is moving at speed u
relative to the clock, and shown that t 2' t1' (t 2 t1 ) . Since 1 , t2' t1' in this
case will always be larger than 300 s. Suppose 2 , people in S will see that in
600 s according to their clock the moving clock has ticked only 300 s, i. e., slower.
(b) Moving stick is shorter. Consider a stick moving at speed u, as seen in frame S. At a
particular moment t the two ends of the stick is at x1 and x2, so the length of the stick
is x2 x1. In the frame S that is moving with the stick, the two ends are (always) at
x1'

and

x2' , and L' x2' x1' . Show that L L' / . Show also that according to S,

the two events (one end of the stick reaches x1 while the other end reaches x2) that
takes place at (x1, t) and (x2, t) do not take place at the same time t. So according to
people in S, people in S measure the length of the moving stick in a wrong way, i. e.,
they did not mark down the position of the two ends at the same moment. No wonder
why they get a shorter reading than the actual one!
Q2
(a) Show that if the velocity of a photon in vacuum is at an angle to the relative motion
velocity between two frames S and S, the speed of the photon is still c in both frames.
(b) Show (by working out the algebra) that if ~
x ( ) ~
x , then ~
x ( ) ~
x ' , where
( ) represents the Lorentz transformation.
Q3
Given the incidence angle, find the reflection angle of light beam off a moving flat mirror
when (a) the motion is along the normal of the mirror plane; and (b) along the plane.
(Want to try the case of finding the focal length of a moving lens? All the parameters of the
lens are given, of course.)
Q4
A particle of momentum p and energy E collides with a stationary particle of mass M. After
collision the two particles form a lump. Find the mass and the momentum of the lump.
Q5
As shown in the figure, in a star frame S two spacecrafts
are moving at uniform speed c in opposite directions.
When the two crafts are nearest each other, according to S,
craft-A sends a pulse radio signal to craft-B.
(a) For craft-B to be able to receive the signal, in what
direction should the crew in craft-A send the signal?

B
A

(b) In the star frame S, how long does it take for the
signal to reach craft-B?
(c) When the crew in craft-B receive the signal, how far
does craft-A appear to them?
Q6
Continue on Example 6.
(a) Find the magnetic field in S.
(b) Find the electric field and magnetic field in S using Eq. (16).
(c) Verify that your answers to (b) are the same by using the current and charge density
seen in S, as given in the example.
(d) As you have noted, in S the wire is neutral but in S it is not. But where does the
charge come from? (Hint: view the wire in S as made of a negatively charged
stationary wire plus a positively charged wire moving at speed V that gives rise to the
current. Choose S such that the positive charge is stationary and therefore the
negative charge is moving. And remember that moving stick is shorter.)