Figure 37-37 shows three situations in which a starship passes Earth (the dot) and then makes a round trip that brings it back past Earth, each at the given Lorentz factor. As measured in the rest frame of Earth, the round-trip distances are as follows: trip 1, 2D; trip 2, 4D; trip 3, 6D. Neglecting any time needed for accelerations and in terms of D and c, find the travel times of (a) trip 1, (b) trip 2, and (c) trip 3 as measured from the rest frame of Earth. Next, find the travel times of (d) trip 1, (e) trip 2, and (f) trip 3 as measured from the rest frame of the starship. (Hint: For a large Lorentz factor, the relative speed is almost c.)

Short Answer

Expert verified

(a) The travel time for trip 1 in rest frame of earth is 2Dc.

(b) The travel time for trip 2 in rest frame of earth is 4Dc.

(c) The travel time for trip 3 in rest frame of earth is 6Dc.

(d) The travel time for trip 1 in rest frame of star ship is D5c.

(e) The travel time for trip 2 in rest frame of star ship is D6c.

(f) The travel time for trip 3 in rest frame of star ship is D5c.

Step by step solution

01

Identification of given data

The distance for trip 1 isd1=2D

The Lorentz factor for trip 1 is γ1=10

The distance for trip 2 isd2=4D

The Lorentz factor for trip 2 is γ2=24

The distance for trip 3 is d3=6D

The Lorentz factor for trip 3 is γ3=30

The speed of star ship is v=c

The Lorentz factor is the factor which is introduced in classical formulas is particle moves with speed of light. The length contraction and time dilation is calculated by using Lorentz factor.

02

Determination of travel time for trip 1 in rest frame of Earth (a)

The travel time for trip 1 in rest frame of earth is given as:

t1=d1v

Substitute all the values in the above equation.

t1=2Dc

Therefore, the travel time for trip 1 in rest frame of earth is 2Dc.

03

Determination of travel time for trip 2 in rest frame of Earth (b)

The travel time for trip 2 in rest frame of earth is given as:

t2=d2v

Substitute all the values in the above equation.

t2=4Dc

Therefore, the travel time for trip 2 in rest frame of earth is 4Dc.

04

Determination of travel time for trip 3 in rest frame of Earth (c)

The travel time for trip 3 in rest frame of earth is given as:

t3=d3v

Substitute all the values in the above equation.

t3=6Dc

Therefore, the travel time for trip 3 in rest frame of earth is 6Dc.

05

Determination of travel time for trip 1 in rest frame of Starship (d)

The travel time for trip 1 in rest frame of starship is given as:

T1=d1γ1v

Substitute all the values in the above equation.

T1=2D10cT1=D5c

Therefore, the travel time for trip 1 in rest frame of starship is D5c.

06

Determination of travel time for trip 2 in rest frame of Starship (e)

The travel time for trip 2 in rest frame of starship is given as:

T2=d2γ2v

Substitute all the values in the above equation.

T2=4D24cT2=D6c

Therefore, the travel time for trip 2 in rest frame of starship is D6c.

07

Determination of travel time for trip 3 in rest frame of Starship (f)

The travel time for trip 3 in rest frame of starship is given as:

T3=d3γ3v±

Substitute all the values in the above equation.

T3=6D30cT3=D5c

Therefore, the travel time for trip 3 in rest frame of starship is D5c.

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