COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

THE UNIVERSITY OF DODOMA

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
PH 2103: THEORY OF RELATIVITY
TEST 01
20th Dec 2022
Instructions:
Answer all Questions
Duration: 90 Minutes
Question 1
i) With vivid examples, distinguish between Inertial and Non Inertial
reference frames. (03 Marks)
Ii) How tall is Mount Kilimanjaro in a reference frame traveling with a cosmic
ray muon that is traveling straight down, relative to Earth, at 0.99c? If the
height of Mount Kilimanjaro according to an Earth-based observer is 5895 m.
(03 Marks)
ii) Describe the twin paradox by depicting its paradox. (03 Marks)
iii) Assume a person who is the same age as you, travels to the star Alpha
Centauri, which is 4 light-years away, and returns immediately. What
was his speed if the entire trip took him just 6 years? (03 Marks)
Question 2
i) Describe briefly the term Proper time and Simultaneity (03 Marks)
ii) A spacecraft is moving relative to the earth. An observer on the earth
finds that, between 3 A.M. and 4 A.M. according to her clock, 3601 s
elapse on the spacecraft’s clock. What is the spacecraft’s speed
relative to the earth? (03 Marks)
iii) Derive relativistic length contraction using the Lorentz transformation.
(4 Marks)
Question 3
i) Deduce Lorentz velocity transformation equation. (04 Marks)
ii) Two spacecraft are approaching one another on anti-parallel tracks.
The first spacecraft is traveling at 0.3c relative to earth and the
second at 0.4c relative to Earth. What is the velocity of the first craft
relative to second? (04 Marks)
ANSWERS
Question 1
i) Distinguishing between Inertial and Non-Inertial Reference Frames:
* Inertial Reference Frame: A frame of reference where Newton's first law of
motion holds true. In simpler terms, an object at rest remains at rest, and an
object in motion continues moving with constant velocity unless acted upon
by an external force. Examples include:
* A spaceship coasting through space far from any gravitational influence.
* A car moving at a constant speed on a straight, level road.
* Non-Inertial Reference Frame: A frame of reference where Newton's first
law does not hold. Objects experience fictitious forces (like the centrifugal
force) even without any real external forces acting on them. Examples:
* A car accelerating or decelerating.
* A rotating merry-go-round.
* A person standing on the Earth's surface (due to the Earth's rotation).
ii) Height of Mount Kilimanjaro for the Muon:
* Length Contraction: Due to the muon's high speed (0.99c), it will experience
length contraction.
* Calculation:
* Let the height of Mount Kilimanjaro in the muon's frame be L'.
* Length contraction formula: L' = L * sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2)
* where L = 5895 m (height in Earth's frame), v = 0.99c, and c is the speed of
light.
* L' = 5895 * sqrt(1 - (0.99c)^2/c^2) = 5895 * sqrt(1 - 0.9801) = 5895 *
sqrt(0.0199) ≈ 5895 * 0.141
* L' ≈ 830.95 meters
Therefore, Mount Kilimanjaro would appear to be approximately 830.95
meters tall to the muon.
iii) Twin Paradox:
The twin paradox arises in special relativity. Imagine two twins, one who stays
on Earth (Twin A) and another who embarks on a high-speed journey to a
distant star and returns (Twin B).
* Paradox: According to special relativity, time dilation occurs. Twin B,
traveling at a significant fraction of the speed of light, will experience time
slower than Twin A on Earth. So, when Twin B returns, they should be younger
than Twin A. However, it seems paradoxical because from Twin B's
perspective, it's Earth that was moving away and then back, so they should be
the younger one.
* Resolution: The paradox is resolved by recognizing that the two twins are
not in equivalent frames of reference. Twin B undergoes acceleration during
their journey (to turn around and come back), while Twin A remains in an
inertial frame. This acceleration breaks the symmetry, and Twin B will indeed
be younger upon their return.
iv) Speed of the Traveler to Alpha Centauri:
* Time Dilation: Let's denote the traveler's time as t' and the Earth time as t.
* Time Dilation Formula: t' = t * sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2)
* Given:
* t' = 6 years
* t = 4 light-years / v (time taken for light to travel to Alpha Centauri)
* c = speed of light
* Calculation:
 * 6 = (4/v) * sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2)
* Solve this equation for v. This will likely involve numerical methods.
Question 2
i) Proper Time and Simultaneity:
* Proper Time: The time interval between two events measured by a clock at
rest in the same frame of reference as the events. It is the shortest time
interval between the two events.
* Simultaneity: Two events that occur at the same time in one reference
frame may not be simultaneous in another reference frame moving relative to
the first. Simultaneity is relative and depends on the observer's frame of
reference.
ii) Spacecraft's Speed Relative to Earth:
* Time Dilation: Let's denote the time on Earth as t and the time on the
spacecraft as t'.
* Time Dilation Formula: t' = t * sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2)
* Given:
* t = 1 hour = 3600 seconds
* t' = 3601 seconds
* Calculation:
* 3601 = 3600 * sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2)
* Solve for v.
iii) Deriving Relativistic Length Contraction:
* Lorentz Transformations:
* x' = γ(x - vt)
* t' = γ(t - vx/c^2)
* where γ = 1/sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2)
* Consider a rod of length L at rest in the frame S. Its endpoints are at x1 and
x2.
* In the frame S, L = x2 - x1.
* In the moving frame S', the length of the rod is L' = x2' - x1'.
* Using the Lorentz transformations, substitute x1 and x2 to find L' in terms
of L.
* After some algebraic manipulation, you will arrive at the length contraction
formula: L' = L * sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2)
Question 3
i) Deducing Lorentz Velocity Transformation:
* Start with the Lorentz transformations for coordinates and time:
* x' = γ(x - vt)
* t' = γ(t - vx/c^2)
* Differentiate both equations with respect to time (t):
* dx'/dt' = γ(dx/dt - v) / (dt - vdx/c^2)
* Recognize that dx/dt = u (velocity in the S frame) and dx'/dt' = u' (velocity in
the S' frame).
* Rearrange the equation to solve for u':
* u' = (u - v) / (1 - uv/c^2)
ii) Velocity of the First Craft Relative to the Second:
* Use the Lorentz velocity transformation:
* v1 = 0.3c (velocity of the first craft relative to Earth)
* v2 = -0.4c (velocity of the second craft relative to Earth, negative sign since
they are approaching)
* Calculate the velocity of the first craft relative to the second (u'):
* u' = (v1 - v2) / (1 - v1v2/c^2) = (0.3c - (-0.4c)) / (1 - (0.3c)(-0.4c)/c^2) =
(0.7c) / (1 + 0.12) = 0.7c / 1.12 ≈ 0.625c
Therefore, the velocity of the first craft relative to the second is approximately
0.625c.

2023
* Explain the postulates of the Special Theory of
Relativity (2 marks)
* Show that the length contraction (L) is given by L = Lp.
1
Where Lp
Is proper length, v
Is relative velocity between the two frames, and c is the speed of light.
√1-v²/c²
(3 marks)
* a) Find the rest energy of a proton in electron
volts. (2 marks)
b) If the total energy of a proton is three times its rest energy, what is the
speed of the
proton?
(3 marks)
c) Determine the kinetic energy of the proton in electron
volts (2 marks)
d) Calculate the proton’s
momentum (3
marks)
ANSWERS

Certainly, let's tackle the questions from the physics test!

1. Explain the postulates of the Special Theory of Relativity
The Special Theory of Relativity is built on two fundamental postulates:
* The Principle of Relativity: The laws of physics are the same for all inertial
frames of reference. This means that there is no preferred frame of reference
in which the laws of physics work differently.
* The Constancy of the Speed of Light: The speed of light in a vacuum is the
same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion or the motion of the
light source.
2. Show that the length contraction (L) is given by L = Lp * √(1 - v²/c²)
Derivation:
* Lorentz Transformations:
* x' = γ(x - vt)
* t' = γ(t - vx/c²)
where γ = 1/√(1 - v²/c²)
* Consider a rod of length Lp at rest in the frame S. Its endpoints are at x1 and
x2.
* In the frame S, Lp = x2 - x1.
* In the moving frame S', the length of the rod is L = x2' - x1'.
* Using the Lorentz transformations:
* x1' = γ(x1 - vt)
* x2' = γ(x2 - vt)
* Subtract x1' from x2' to get L':
 * L = x2' - x1' = γ(x2 - vt) - γ(x1 - vt) = γ(x2 - x1) = γLp
* Substitute γ back in:
* L = Lp * (1/√(1 - v²/c²)) = Lp * √(1 - v²/c²)
Therefore, L = Lp * √(1 - v²/c²)
3. a) Find the rest energy of a proton in electron volts.
* Rest Energy (E0): E0 = m0c²
* Mass of a proton (m0): 1.6726 x 10^-27 kg
* Speed of light (c): 3 x 10^8 m/s
* Electron volt (eV): 1 eV = 1.6 x 10^-19 J
* Calculation:
* E0 = (1.6726 x 10^-27 kg) * (3 x 10^8 m/s)² = 1.50534 x 10^-10 J
* E0 = (1.50534 x 10^-10 J) / (1.6 x 10^-19 J/eV) = 939.59 MeV
Therefore, the rest energy of a proton is approximately 939.59 MeV.
3. b) If the total energy of a proton is three times its rest energy, what is the
speed of the proton?
* Total Energy (E): E = 3 * E0 = 3 * m0c²
* Relativistic Energy-Momentum Equation: E² = (m0c²)² + (pc)²
* Momentum (p): p = γm0v
* Calculation:
* (3m0c²)² = (m0c²)² + (γm0v)²
* 8m0²c⁴ = γ²m0²v²
* 8c⁴ = γ²v²
* 8c⁴ = v² / (1 - v²/c²)
* Solve this equation for v. This will likely involve numerical methods.
3. c) Determine the kinetic energy of the proton in electron volts
* Kinetic Energy (K): K = E - E0 = 2 * E0 (since E = 3 * E0)
* K = 2 * 939.59 MeV = 1879.18 MeV
Therefore, the kinetic energy of the proton is approximately 1879.18 MeV.
3. d) Calculate the proton's momentum
* Relativistic Energy-Momentum Equation: E² = (m0c²)² + (pc)²
* We know E = 3 * E0 and E0 = m0c²
* Calculation:
* (3m0c²)² = (m0c²)² + (pc)²
* 8m0²c⁴ = p²
* p = √(8m0²c⁴)
* Calculate p using the values for m0 and c.