Problem Set

26: 3 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 45 | 47 | 18 | 21 | 23 | 26 | 28 | 31 | Go up
- Scott Parsons, 2003
3. A beam of a certain type of elementary particle travels at a speed of 2.70 x 10^8
m/s. At this speed, the average lifetime is measured to be 4.76 x 10^-6 s. What is the
particles lifetime at rest?
Use the following equation:
t = t0
Where
= 1/1 - (v2/c2)
Put these together and you have
t = t0 /1 - (v2/c2)
Now replace the variables in the equation and solve for t
V = 2.70 x 10^8 m/s
t0 = 4.76 x 10^6 s
c = 3.00 x 10^8 m/s
t = (4.76 x 10^6 s) /1 ((2.70 x 10^8 m/s)^2/(c2)) = 2.07 x 10^-6 s
(Table of Contents)
6. What is the speed of a beam of pions if their average lifetime is measured to be 4.10
x 10^-8 s? At rest, their lifetime is 2.60 x 10^-8 s.
Use the following equation:
t = t0 /1 - (v2/c2)
And solve for v to get
V = c 1 - (t0 2/t 2)
Now replace the variables in the equation and find v
t = 4.10 x 10^-8 s
t0 = 2.60 x 10^-8 s
v = (3.00 x 10^8) 1 ((2.60 x 10^-8 s)^2/(4.10 x 10^-8 s)^2) = (2.13 x 10^8 m/s)
/ (3 x 10^8) = .773c
(Table of Contents)
8.

At what speed do the relativistic formulas for length and time intervals differ from
classical values by 1.00 percent?
Use the following equation:
t = t0 /1 - (v2/c2)
And solve for v to get
V = c 1 - (t0 2/t 2)
Now replace the variables in the equation and find v
Where t = 100 and t0 = 99
V = (3.00 x 10^8) 1 ((99)^2/(100)^2) = .196 m/s
(Table of Contents)

12. How fast must a pion be moving, on average, to travel 10.0 m before it decays? The
average lifetime, at rest, is 2.60 x 10^-8 s.

Use the following equations:

V = s/t and t = t0 /1 - (v2/c2)
Put these to equations together to get
S = vt = vt0 /1 - (v2/c2)
Now solve for v to get
V = s / t02 + (s2 / c2 )
Now replace the variables in the equation and find v
S = 10.0 m
t0 = 2.60E-8 s
V = s / t02 + (s2 / c2 ) = 10.0 / (2.60E-8 )2 + (10.02 / c2 ) = 2.3655E8 m/s
(2.3655E8 m/s) / (3E8) = .789c
(Table of Contents)
2.

A spaceship passes you at a speed of .850c. You measure its length to be 48.2
m. How long would it be at rest?
Use the following equation:
L = L0/
Where
= 1/1 - (v2/c2)
Put these together and you have
L = L0 1 - (v2/c2)
Solve for L0 to get
L0 = L / 1 - (v2/c2)
Now replace the variables in the equation and solve for L0
L = 48.2 m
V = .850c = 2.55 x 10^8 m/s
L0 = L / 1 - (v2/c2)= 48.2 / 1 ((2.55 x 10^8 m/s)^2)/(c2)) = 91.5 m
(Table of Contents)

4. If you were to travel to a star 100 light-years from Earth at a speed of 2.60 x 10^8
m/s, what would you measure this distance to be?
Use the following equation from #2:
L = L0 1 - (v2/c2)
Now replace the variables in the equation and solve for L0
L = 100 ly
V = 2.60 x 10^8 m/s
L = L0 1 - (v2/c2)= 100 1 ((2.60 x 10^8 m/s)^2 /c^2)) = 49.9 ly
(Table of Contents)
11. A friend of yours travels by you in her fast sports vehicle at a speed of .580c. You
measure it to be 5.80 m long and 1.20 m high. (a) What will be its length and height
at rest? (b) How many seconds would you say elapsed on your friends watch when
20.0 s passed on yours? (c) How fast did you appear to be traveling to your
friend? (d) How many seconds would she say elapsed on your watch when she saw
20.0 s pass on hers?

(a) Use the following equation:

L = L0 1 - (v2/c2)
Solve for L0 to get
L0 = L / 1 - (v2/c2)
Now replace the variables in the equation and solve for L0
L = 5.80 m
V = .58c
L0 = L / 1 - (v2/c2)= 5.80 / 1 - (.582)= 7.12 m
The height hasnt changed so it will still be 1.2 m high
(b) Use the following formula:
t = t0 /1 - (v2/c2)
Solve for t0 to get
t0 = t 1 - (v2/c2)
Now replace the variables in the equation and solve for t0
t = 20 s
V = .58c
t0 = t 1 - (v2/c2)= 20 1 - (.582)= 16.3 s
(c) .580c
(d) 16.3 s
(Table of Contents)
12. How fast must a pion be moving, on average to travel 10.0 m before it
decays? The average lifetime at rest is 2.60 x 10-8 s
Well, the pion will be going at a velocity such that
vt = 10.0 m, which sounds simple enough, but the time is of course, dilated, which makes it a
bit tricky. It really is
vto/1-v2/c2)= 10.0 m
And this gets a bit messy, but not really too bad. First, square both sides, yielding
v2to2/(1 - v2/c2) = L2, where L = 10.0 m
Then cross multiply and distribute
v2to2 = L2(1 - v2/c2) = L - Lv2/c2
v2to2 = L2 - L2v2/c2
Get terms of v on the same side:
v2to2 + L2v2/c2 = L2
Factor out v2:
v2(to2 + L2/c2) = L2
Divide both sides by the factor in the ():
v2 = L2/(to2 + L2/c2)
Finally, square root both sides:
v = L/(to2 + L2/c2), L = 10.0, to = 2.6 x 10-8 s, c = 3.00 x 108 m/s, v = 2.37 x 108 m/s or .789
c

13. What is the mass of a proton traveling at v = 0.90c?

Use the following equation:
m = m0
where = 1/1 - (v2/c2)
Put these together and you have
m = m0 / 1 - (v2/c2)
Now replace the variables in the equation and solve for m
m0 = 1.6726 10^-27 (the rest mass of a proton found in data packet)
v = 0.90c = 2.7 x 10^8 m/s
m = m0 / 1 - (v2/c2)= (1.6726 / 1 - (2.7 x 10^8 m/s)/ (c2)= 3.8 x 10^27 kg
(Table of Contents)
14. At what speed will an objects mass be twice its rest mass?
Use the following equation from #13:
m = m0 / 1 - (v2/c2)
Solve for v to get
V = c 1 (m0 2/m 2)
And replace the variables in the equation and solve for v
m = 2
m0 = 1
V = c 1 (m0 2/m 2)= c 1 ((1^2)/(2^2)) = .866c
(Table of Contents)
17. (a) What is the speed of an electron whose mass is 10,000 times its rest mass? (b) If
the electrons travel in the lab through a tube 3.0 km long, how long is this tube in the
electrons reference frame?
(a) Use the following equation from #13:
m = m0 / 1 - (v2/c2)
Solve for v to get
V = c 1 (m0 2/m 2)
And replace the variables in the equation and solve for v
m = 10,000
m0 = 1
V = c 1 (m0 2/m 2)= c 1 (1 2/10,000 2)= .99999c
(b) Use the equation:
L = L0 1 - (v2/c2)
And replace the variables in the equation and solve for L
L0 = 3 km = 3,000 m = 30,000 cm
V = .9999 c
L = L0 1 - (v2/c2)= 30,000 1 - (.999992) = 30 cm
(Table of Contents)
45. A person on a rocket traveling at 0.50c observes a meteor comes from behind and
pass her at a speed she measures as 0.50c. How fast is the meteor moving with
respect to the Earth?

Use the equation:

u'x = (ux - v)/(1 - (uxv/c2))
Since the rockets are going in the same direction the changes to a +
u'x = (ux + v)/(1 + (uxv/c2))
Now replace the variables in the equation and solve for u'x
V = .50c
ux = .50c
u'x = (ux + v)/(1 + (uxv/c2))= (.50 + .50)/(1 + (.50 x .50))= .8c
(Table of Contents)
47. An observer on Earth sees an alien vessel approach at a speed of 0.60c. The
Enterprises comes to the rescue overtaking the aliens while moving directly toward
Earth at a speed of 0.90c relative to Earth. What is the relative speed of one vessel
seen by the other?
Use the equation:
u'x = (ux - v)/(1 - (uxv/c2))
Since the rockets are going in the same direction the changes to a +
u'x = (ux + v)/(1 + (uxv/c2))
Now replace the variables in the equation and solve for ux
u'x = .90c
v = .60c
.90 = (ux + .60c)/(1 + (ux x .60))
ux = .65c
(Table of Contents)
18. What is the kinetic energy of an electron whose mass is 3.0 times its rest mass?
Use the following equation from the book:
KE = mc2 - m0c2 which is really
KE =(m - m0)c2
Now replace the variables in the equation and solve for KE
m0 = 9.11 x 10^-31 (the rest mass of an electron from data packet)
M = 3(9.11 x 10^-31)
KE =(m - m0)c2 = ((3 x 9.11 x 10^-31) - 9.11 x 10^-31))c2 = 1.6 x 10^-13 J
(Table of Contents)
21. Calculate the rest energy of an electron in joules and in MeV (1 MeV = 1.60 x 10^-13
J).
Use the following equation:
E = mc2
Now replace the variables in the equation and solve for E
M = 9.11 x 10^-31 (the rest mass of an electron from data packet)
E = mc2 = (9.11 x 10^-31)(3E8)^2 = 8.20E-14
But it also wants it in MeV so divide by 1.60 x 10^-13
(8.20E-14)/( 1.60 x 10^-13) = .511 MeV
(Table of Contents)

23. The total annual energy consumption in the United States is about 8 x 10^19 J. How
much mass would have to be converted to energy to fuel this need?
Use the following equation:
E = mc2
And solve for m to get
M = E / c2
Now replace the variables in the equation and solve for m
E = 8E19
C = 3.00E8
M = E / c2 = (8E19)/(3E8) 2 = 9 x 102 kg
(Table of Contents)
26. (a) How much work is required to accelerate a proton from rest up to a speed of
0.998c? (b) What would be the momentum of this proton?
(a) Use the following equation:
m = m0 / 1 - (v2/c2)
And replace the variables in the equation and solve for m
m0 = 1.6726E-27 (the rest mass of a proton from data packet)
v = .998c
m = m0 / 1 - (v2/c2)= 1.6726E-27 / 1 - (.9982)= 2.6459E-26
Now use the following equation
KE =(m - m0)c2
And replace the variables in the equation and solve for m
M = 2.6459E-26
m0 = 1.6726E-27
KE =(m - m0)c2 = (2.6459E-26 - 1.6726E-27)c2 = 2.23E-9 J
(b) Use the following equation:
p = mv
And replace the variables in the equation and solve for p
M = 2.6459E-26 (from (a) above)
V = 0.998c = 2.994 x 10^8 m/s
p = mv = (2.6459E-26)( 2.994 x 10^8) = 7.91 x 10^-18 kgm/s
(Table of Contents)
28. Calculate the kinetic energy and momentum of proton traveling 2.50 x 10^8 m/s.
Use the following equation:
m = m0 / 1 - (v2/c2)
And replace the variables in the equation and solve for m
m0 = 1.6726E-27 (the rest mass of a proton from data packet)
v = 2.5 x 10^8 m/s
m = m0 / 1 - (v2/c2)= 1.6726E-27 / 1 - (2.5 x 10^8 m/s 2/3E82)=
3.0258E-27 kg
Now use the equation
KE =(m - m0)c2
And replace the variables in the equation and solve for KE

KE =(m - m0)c2 = (3.0258 - 1.6726E-27)c2 = 1.22E-10 J

Now to find the momentum use the equation:
P = mv
And replace the variables in the equation and solve for p
M = 3.0258E-27 kg
V = 2.5 x 10^8 m/s
P = mv = (3.0258E-27)( 2.5 x 10^8) = 7.55E-19 kgm/s
(Table of Contents)
31. What is the speed of an electron whose KE is 1.00 MeV?
Use the following equation:
KE = mc2 - m0c2
And solve for m to get
M = KE + m0 c2 / c2
Now replace the variables in the equation and solve for m
KE = 1.00 MeV = 1.60 x 10^-13 J
m0 = 9.11E-31 kg (the rest mass of an electron)
M = KE + m0 = (1.60 x 10^-13) + (9.11E-31) c2 / c2 = 2.6887777E-30
Now to find the speed of the electron use the equation:
m = m0 / 1 - (v2/c2)
And solve for v to get
V = c 1 (m0 2/m 2)
Now replace the variables in the equation and solve for v
m0 = 9.11E-31 kg (the rest mass of an electron)
m = 2.6887777E-30
V = c 1 (m0 2/m 2)= c 1 ((9.11E-31 )2/(2.6887777E-30 2)) = .941c
(Table of Contents)