a. Derive a velocity transformation equation for uyand uy'. Assume that the reference frames are in the standard orientation with motion parallel to the x- and x′-axes.

b. A rocket passes the earth at 0.80c. As it goes by, it launches a projectile at 0.60c perpendicular to the direction of motion. What is the particle’s speed, as a fraction of c, in the earth’s reference frame?

Short Answer

Expert verified

a. The velocity transformation equation are,

uy=uy'γ(1+ux'vc2)uy'=uyγ(1-uxvc2)

b. The speed is0.88c.

Step by step solution

01

Part (a) Step 1: Given information

We have given,

Frame is moving in the along of x- axis and x' axis.

We have to find the their transformation velocity equation in y- axis and y'- axis.

02

Simplify

Let assume an object A which is moving at constant velocity(ux',uy',uz') in the S'-frame. Where s′ frame is moving along the x'-axis with constant velocity v.

Let for an small increment in time dt' and in the position along the x'-axis is dx'.

Using Lorentz transformation, we can write,

dt=γ(dt'+vdx'c2)dx=γ(dx'+vdt')dy=dy'dz=dz'

Then its velocity will be derivative of the position components,

uy=dydt=dy'γ(dt'+vdx'c2)

divide by dt'above and below,

uy=dy'dt'γ(dt'+vdx'c2dt')uy=uy'γ(1+vux'c2)

Then,

uy'=dy'dt'=dydtγ-γvdx'c2uy'=uyγ(1-uxvc2)

03

Part (b) Step 1: Given information

We have given,

Rocket speed= 0.8c

Projectile speed =0.6c

What is the speed of projectile with respect of rest frame.

04

Simplify

From Lorentz transformation we can wrote,

uy=uy'γ(1+ux'vc2)

Substitute the values

uy=0.6cγ(1+0vc2)uy=0.6c×1-(0.8c)2c2uy=0.36c

and then along the x-axis,

ux=ux'+v(1+ux'vc2)ux=0+v1+0ux=0.8c

Then the total speed observe is,

u=ux'2+uy'2u=(0.36c)2+(0.8c)2u=0.88c

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