Observer Sreports that an even occurred on thexaxis of his reference frame at x=3.00×108mat time t=2.50s. ObserverS'and her frame are moving in the positive direction of the xaxis at a speed of0.400c. Furtherx=x'=0att=t'=0. What are the (a) spatial and (b) temporal coordinate of the event according to S'? If S'were, instead, moving in the negative direction of thexaxis, what would be that (c) spatial and (d) temporal coordinate of the event according toS'?

Short Answer

Expert verified

(a) The spatial coordinate according to S'is x'=0.

(b) The temporal coordinate according to S'ist'=2.29s .

(c) The spatial coordinate according toS' moving in the negative direction of xaxis is6.54×108m .

(d) The temporal coordinate according toS' moving in the negative direction ofx axis is 3.16s.

Step by step solution

01

The length contraction equation

The length contraction equation states thatx-vt=x'1-vc2 , where the expression x-vtis equal to the length measured in the inertial reference frame.

02

The spatial coordinate

By using the above given formula, we can calculate the spatial coordinate,x', of the event in the moving observer’s time frame.

Substitute the given values in the above formula:

x-vt=x'1-vc23.00×108-0.400.3×108.2.5=x'1-0.400cc2x'=0

Thus, the spatial coordinate of the event according to S'is0m .

03

The temporal coordinate 

Here, we use time dilation equation,t'=t-xv1-vc2, wheret-xvshows that time measured in the reference frame of inertial observer.

Substitute the given values in the above equation:

t'=t-xv1-vc2t'=2.5-3.00×1080.400.3×1081-0.400c2t'=2.29s

Thus, the temporal coordinate of the event according to S'is2.29s .

04

The spatial coordinate in negative axis 

Here, the observer is traveling in the opposite direction. So, the length contraction equation becomes x+vt=x'1-vc2.

Substitute the given values in the above equation:

x-vt=x'1-vc2

3.00×108+0.400.3×108.2.5=x'1-0.400cc2x'=6.54×108m

Thus, the spatial coordinate according to moving in the negative direction of xaxis is6.54×108m .

05

The temporal coordinate in negative axis 

Here, the observer is traveling in the opposite direction. So, the time dilation equation becomes t'=t+xv1-vc2t'=t+xv1-vc2.

Substitute the given values in the above equation:

t'=t+xv1-vc2t'=2.5+3.00×1080.400.3×1081-0.400cc2t'=3.16s

Thus, the temporal coordinate according to moving in the negative direction of axis is 3.16s.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

A spaceship whose rest length is 350 m has a speed of 0.82c with respect to a certain reference frame. A micrometeorite, also with a speed of 0.82c in this frame, passes the spaceship on an antiparallel track. How long does it take this object to pass the ship as measured on the ship?


The premise of the Planet of the Apes movies and books is that hibernating astronauts travel far into Earth’s future, to a time when human civilization has been replaced by an ape civilization. Considering only special relativity, determine how far into Earth’s future the astronauts would travel if they slept for 120 y while traveling relative to Earth with a speed of 0.9990c, first outward from Earth and then back again?

(Come) back to the future. Suppose that a father is 20.00 y older than his daughter. He wants to travel outward from Earth for 2.000 y and then back for another 2.000 y (both intervals as he measures them) such that he is then 20.00 y younger than his daughter. What constant speed parameter β (relative to Earth) is required?

Question:(a) If m is a particle’s mass, p is its momentum magnitude, and K is its kinetic energy, show that

m=pc2-K22Kc2

(b) For low particle speeds, show that the right side of the equation reduces to m. (c) If a particle has K = 55.0 MeV when p=121 MeV/c, what is the ratio m/me of its mass to the electron mass?

Question:As you read this page (on paper or monitor screen), a cosmic ray proton passes along the left–right width of the page with relative speed v and a total energy of 14.24 nJ. According to your measurements, that left–right width is 21.0 cm. (a) What is the width according to the proton’s reference frame? How much time did the passage take according to (b) your frame and (c) the proton’s frame?

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free