An object of mass 3mo moves to the right at 0.8c.

a) Calculate its momentum and energy.

b) Using the relativistic velocity transformation, determine its velocity in a new frame of reference moving it to right at 0.5c, then using it to determine the object's momentum and energy in this new frame.

c) Verify that equations role="math" localid="1657556434416" (2-38) are satisfied.

Short Answer

Expert verified
  1. In a stationary frame, the momentum and energy of the object are4mθc&5moc2.
  2. And in the moving frame, the momentum and energy of the object are 1.74moc&3.48moc2.
  3. The equations (2-38) are verified.

Step by step solution

01

Determine the object’s energy and momentum in the stationary frame.

Let's consider a reference frame Swith respect to which this object moves along its positive x-direction at a velocity of 0.8c.

The total relativistic energy of this object is,

E=y0.8.mc2

=533mac2

E=5moc2

The relativistic momentum of the object is,

px=γzimux

=γ0.8c3mo(0.8c)

=532.4moc2

px=4moc

02

Determine the object's velocity in the frame   S' moving relative to S at velocity   0.5c.

The relativistic velocity transformation is expressed as,

ux'=ux-v1-uxvc2

=0.8c-0.5c1-(0.8×0.5)

=0.3c0.6

us'=0.5c

03

Calculate the momentum and energy in this new frame of reference.

The total energy and momentum in this new frame moving at 0.5cto the right is,

Energy:

E'=7'mc'

localid="1657557711016" =71.5c3mνc2

=1.16(3)moc2

E'=3.48mvc2

Momentum:

px'=γiiz'mux'

=γ0.,c3mo(0.5c)

localid="1659092783461" =(1.16×3×0.5)mocp'x=1.74moc

04

Verify the above results using (2-38) equations.

Momentum:

px'=γvpx-vcEc

=γosc4moc-0.5cc5mec2c

=1.164mec-2.5mec

px'=1.74mvc

Energy:

E'=γrE-vps

=γ0.5c5mvc2-(0.5c)4mtc

=1.163moc2

E'=3.48moc2

Thus, the (2-38)equations are verified.

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