Special Theory of Relativity (PH101)

Course Instructors: Pankaj Mishra and Tapan Mishra

Practice Problems
due on Monday, 28th of October, 2019 (11:00Hrs IST)

1. Electrons in projection television sets are accelerated through a potential difference of 50 kV.

Calculate the speed of the electrons using the relativistic form of kinetic energy assuming the
electrons start from rest.Answer: v = 0.413c

Calculate the speed of the electrons using the classical form of kinetic energy.Answer: v
= 0.442c

Solution

A particle with rest mass m moving with speed v has the kinetic energy K given by
p 1
K = (Γu − 1)mc2 . Therefore, v = c 1 − [1 + (K/mc2 )−2 ]. Also for v  c we have K ' mv 2 .
2
2. As seen from Earth, two spaceships A and B are approaching along perpendicular directions.
If A is observed by a stationary Earth observer to have velocity uy = −0.90c and B to have
velocity ux = 0.90c, determine the speed of ship A as measured by the pilot of ship B.Answer:
u0x = −0.9c, u0y = −0.39c, u0 = 0.98c

Solution:

We take the S frame to be attached to the Earth and the S’ frame to be attached to spaceship B
moving with β = 0.90 along the x-axis. Spaceship A has velocity components ux = 0, uy = 0.90c
in S.
uy
u0y = give the velocity components of spaceship A in S 0 , from which we have
γ(1 − ux v/c2 )
u0x = −v = −0.90c, u0y = uy /γ = −0.39c So we have,
q
u0 = (u0x )2 + (u0y )2 = 0.98c

3. A body quadruples its momentum when its speed doubles. What was the initial speed in units
of c, i.e., what was u/c? Answer: u/c = √15

4. A body of rest mass m0 moving at speed v collides with and sticks to an p

identical body at rest.
What is the mass and momentum of the final clump?Answer: M = m0 2(1 + Γv )

5. Two β particles move in opposite direction with velocity 0.6c in the laboratory frame. Cal-
culate the velocity of one β particle in the moving frame attached to the other β particle by
applying relativistic transformation. Repeat the calculations taking speed of particles as 0.06c
 2

. Answer: u02 = −0.88c

6. A 2m long stick, when it is at rest, moves past an observer on the ground with a speed of 0.5c.

(a) What is the length measured by the observer ?Answer: L = 1.732m

(b) If the same stick moves with the velocity of 0.05c what would be its length measured
by the observer ?Answer: L = 1.997m

7. A proton of mass mp = 1.67 × 10−27 kg moves with a speed of u = 0.6c. Compute its rela-
tivistic and non-relativistic momentum.Answer: Prelativistic = 3.75 × 10−19 kg − m/sec and
Pnonrelativistic = 3.0 × 10−19 kg − m/sec

8. The change in frequency of wave that happens due to relative motion between the source and
observer isknown as the “Doppler effect.” In Galilean relativity the modified frequency is given
v ± vo
by ν = ν0 , where, ν0 is the original emitted frequency, ν is the observed(detected)
v ∓ vs
frequency, v, vs , and vo is the velocity of wave (e.g., sound wave),observer, and source relative
to the medium respectively. Here +(−) stands for the situation when observer r is approaching
c±v
(receding) towards (from) source. This relation gets modified in STR as ν = ν0 where,
c∓v
c is the velocity of light and v is the velocity of the light source. Note that here implicitly it is
assumed that the observer is in the frame S and light source is in the moving frame S’. Using
this information solve the following problem.

A driver is caught violating the traffic rule by going through a red light signal. The driver
claims to the judge that the color she actually saw was green (ν = 5.60 × 1014 Hz) and not red
(ν = 4.80 × 1014 Hz) because of the Doppler effect. The judge accepts this explanation and
instead fines her for speeding at the rate of 100 (INR) for each km/h that she exceeded the
speed limit of 80 km/h. Compute the total fine amount?

Solution: r
c+v
Using the relation ν = ν0 , as the observer (driver) is approaching towards the source
c−v
(signal),
 2we have
ν − ν02 (5.60)2 − (4.80)2
  
8
v=c 2 = 3 × 10 m/s
ν + ν02 (5.60)2 + (4.80)2
= 4.59 × 107 m/sec = 1.65 × 108 km/h, (since, 1m/sec = 3.6km/h).

The fine will be (1.65 × 108 − 80) × 100(IN R) = 16499992000(IN R).

 3

∂ 2E 1 ∂ 2E
9. The light wave equation is given by − = 0, where, E is the electric field and c is
∂x2 c2 ∂t2
the velocity of light. Show that under Galileantransformation the above equation will have the
∂ 2E 0 1 ∂ 2E 0 2vx ∂ 2 E 0 ∂E 0

vx ∂
form as 02
− 2 02 − 2 0 0
− 2 0 vx 0 = 0, where vx is the speed of S 0 frame
∂x c ∂t c ∂x ∂t c ∂x ∂x
w.r.t. the S frame. That shows that light wave equation is not compatible with the Galilean
relativity. Hint: Use the transformation formula discussed during the first lecture of STR.

Solution:

Similar problem has been done in the class where incompatibility of the Ampere’s law was
shown with the Galilean relativity (GR). Use the relation E/B = c which will give the relation
E 0 = E if it is assumed that for E = E(x, t)ĵ and B = B(x, t)k̂ the Lorentz force remains
invariant which will give the relation E = E 0 + vx B (See the lecture note for details).
hint:

∂x0 ∂x0 ∂t0 ∂t0

x0 = x − vx t t0 = t → =1 = −vx =1 =0
∂x ∂t ∂t ∂x
using the chain rule,Electrons in projection television sets are accelerated through a poten-
tial difference of 50 kV.

Calculate the speed of the electrons using the relativistic form of kinetic energy assuming the
electrons start from rest.Answer: v = 0.413c

Calculate the speed of the electrons using the classical form of kinetic energy.Answer: v
= 0.442c

Solution

A particle with rest mass m moving with speed v has the kinetic energy K given by
p 1
K = (Γu − 1)mc2 . Therefore, v = c 1 − [1 + (K/mc2 )−2 ]. Also for v  c we have K ' mv 2 .
2
10. As seen from Earth, two spaceships A and B are approaching along perpendicular directions.
If A is observed by a stationary Earth observer to have velocity uy = −0.90c and B to have
velocity ux = 0.90c, determine the speed of ship A as measured by the pilot of ship B.Answer:
u0x = −0.9c, u0y = −0.39c, u0 = 0.98c

Solution:

We take the S frame to be attached to the Earth and the S’ frame to be attached to spaceship B
moving with β = 0.90 along the x-axis. Spaceship A has velocity components ux = 0, uy = 0.90c
in S.
uy
u0y = 2
give the velocity components of spaceship A in S 0 , from which we have
γ(1 − ux v/c )
u0x = −v = −0.90c, u0y = uy /γ = −0.39c So we have,
 4

q
0
u = (u0x )2 + (u0y )2 = 0.98c

11. A body quadruples its momentum when its speed doubles. What was the initial speed in units
of c, i.e., what was u/c? Answer: u/c = √15

12. A body of rest mass m0 moving at speed v collides with and sticks to an p
identical body at rest.
What is the mass and momentum of the final clump?Answer: M = m0 2(1 + Γv )

13. Two β particles move in opposite direction with velocity 0.6c in the laboratory frame. Cal-
culate the velocity of one β particle in the moving frame attached to the other β particle by
applying relativistic transformation. Repeat the calculations taking speed of particles as 0.06c
. Answer: u02 = −0.88c

14. A 2m long stick, when it is at rest, moves past an observer on the ground with a speed of 0.5c.

(a) What is the length measured by the observer ?Answer: L = 1.732m

(b) If the same stick moves with the velocity of 0.05c what would be its length measured
by the observer ?Answer: L = 1.997m

15. A proton of mass mp = 1.67 × 10−27 kg moves with a speed of u = 0.6c. Compute its rela-
tivistic and non-relativistic momentum.Answer: Prelativistic = 3.75 × 10−19 kg − m/sec and
Pnonrelativistic = 3.0 × 10−19 kg − m/sec

16. The change in frequency of wave that happens due to relative motion between the source and
observer isknown as the “Doppler effect.” In Galilean relativity the modified frequency is given
v ± vo
by ν = ν0 , where, ν0 is the original emitted frequency, ν is the observed(detected)
v ∓ vs
frequency, v, vs , and vo is the velocity of wave (e.g., sound wave),observer, and source relative
to the medium respectively. Here +(−) stands for the situation when observer r is approaching
c±v
(receding) towards (from) source. This relation gets modified in STR as ν = ν0 where,
c∓v
c is the velocity of light and v is the velocity of the light source. Note that here implicitly it is
assumed that the observer is in the frame S and light source is in the moving frame S’. Using
this information solve the following problem.

A driver is caught violating the traffic rule by going through a red light signal. The driver
claims to the judge that the color she actually saw was green (ν = 5.60 × 1014 Hz) and not red
 5

(ν = 4.80 × 1014 Hz) because of the Doppler effect. The judge accepts this explanation and
instead fines her for speeding at the rate of 100 (INR) for each km/h that she exceeded the
speed limit of 80 km/h. Compute the total fine amount?

Solution: r
c+v
Using the relation ν = ν0 , as the observer (driver) is approaching towards the source
c−v
(signal),
 2we have
ν − ν02 (5.60)2 − (4.80)2
  
8
v=c 2 = 3 × 10 m/s
ν + ν02 (5.60)2 + (4.80)2
= 4.59 × 107 m/sec = 1.65 × 108 km/h, (since, 1m/sec = 3.6km/h).

The fine will be (1.65 × 108 − 80) × 100(IN R) = 16499992000(IN R).

∂ 2E 1 ∂ 2E
17. The light wave equation is given by − = 0, where, E is the electric field and c is
∂x2 c2 ∂t2
the velocity of light. Show that under Galileantransformation the above equation will have the
2 0 2 0 2 0 0

∂ E 1∂ E 2vx ∂ E vx ∂ ∂E
form as 02
− 2 02 − 2 0 0
− 2 0 vx 0 = 0, where vx is the speed of S 0 frame
∂x c ∂t c ∂x ∂t c ∂x ∂x
w.r.t. the S frame. That shows that light wave equation is not compatible with the Galilean
relativity. Hint: Use the transformation formula discussed during the first lecture of STR.

Solution:

Similar problem has been done in the class where incompatibility of the Ampere’s law was
shown with the Galilean relativity (GR). Use the relation E/B = c which will give the relation
E 0 = E if it is assumed that for E = E(x, t)ĵ and B = B(x, t)k̂ the Lorentz force remains
invariant which will give the relation E = E 0 + vx B (See the lecture note for details).
hint:

∂x0 ∂x0 ∂t0 ∂t0

x0 = x − vx t t0 = t → =1 = −vx =1 =0
∂x ∂t ∂t ∂x
∂E ∂E ∂x0 ∂E ∂t0 ∂E
using the chain rule, = 0
+ 0 = .
∂x ∂x ∂x ∂t ∂x ∂x0
∂ 2E ∂ 2E
In the similar way it can be shown that = .
∂x2 ∂x02
A ball moves at speed v 1 with respect to a train. The train moves at speed v 2 with respect
to the ground. What is the speed of the ball with respect to the ground? Solve this problem
(that is, derive the velocity addition formula, eq. (11.31)) in the following way (dont use time
dilation, length contraction, etc; use only the fact that the speed of light is the same in any
inertial frame): Let the ball be thrown from the back of the train. At the same instant, a
photon is released next to it (see Fig. 11.44). The photon heads to the front of the train,
bounces off a mirror, heads back, and eventually runs into the ball. In both the frame of the
train and the frame of the ground, calculate the fraction of the way along the train where the
meeting occurs, and then equate these fractions.
∂E ∂E ∂x0 ∂E ∂t0 ∂E ∂E
= + = − v x
∂t ∂x0 ∂t ∂t0 ∂t ∂t0 ∂x0
 6

∂E ∂t0 ∂E ∂x0
       
∂ ∂E ∂ ∂E ∂E ∂ ∂E ∂ ∂E
= − vx 0 = 0 − vx 0 + 0 − vx 0
∂t ∂t ∂t ∂t0 ∂x ∂t ∂t0 ∂x ∂t ∂x ∂t0 ∂x ∂t
∂ 2E ∂ 2E ∂ 2
E
= 02 − 2vx 0 0 − vx2 02 .
∂t ∂x ∂t ∂x
0 0
∂E ∂E ∂x ∂E ∂t ∂E
= 0
+ 0 = .
∂x ∂x ∂x ∂t ∂x ∂x0
∂ 2E ∂ 2E
In the similar way it can be shown that = .
∂x2 ∂x02
∂E ∂E ∂x0 ∂E ∂t0 ∂E ∂E
= + = − v x
∂t ∂x0 ∂t ∂t0 ∂t ∂t0 ∂x0
∂E ∂t0 ∂E ∂x0
       
∂ ∂E ∂ ∂E ∂E ∂ ∂E ∂ ∂E
= − vx 0 = 0 − vx 0 + 0 − vx 0
∂t ∂t ∂t ∂t0 ∂x ∂t ∂t0 ∂x ∂t ∂x ∂t0 ∂x ∂t
∂ 2E ∂ 2E ∂ 2
E
= 02 − 2vx 0 0 − vx2 02 .
∂t ∂x ∂t ∂x