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Electromagnetic Theory 2019-20: Practice Problems No. V April 24, 2020

1. The document contains 5 practice problems related to electromagnetic theory. The problems cover topics like relative speed of particles, transformations between reference frames, metrics and coordinate systems in spacetime, decay of positronium, and electromagnetic waves. 2. The first problem asks about the relative speed of two particles moving perpendicularly to each other with the same speed. The second problem involves transformations between reference frames moving at relativistic speeds. 3. The third problem defines metrics and line elements in both Cartesian and spherical polar coordinates for Minkowski spacetime and calculates the Christoffel symbols.

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25 views

Electromagnetic Theory 2019-20: Practice Problems No. V April 24, 2020

1. The document contains 5 practice problems related to electromagnetic theory. The problems cover topics like relative speed of particles, transformations between reference frames, metrics and coordinate systems in spacetime, decay of positronium, and electromagnetic waves. 2. The first problem asks about the relative speed of two particles moving perpendicularly to each other with the same speed. The second problem involves transformations between reference frames moving at relativistic speeds. 3. The third problem defines metrics and line elements in both Cartesian and spherical polar coordinates for Minkowski spacetime and calculates the Christoffel symbols.

Uploaded by

Devender
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY 2019-20

Practice Problems No. V


April 24, 2020

1. Consider two particles which are moving with the same speed v but in directions per-
pendicular to each other in a frame S. What is their relative speed?

2. A particle
√ is moving along a 45◦ line in the x − y plane in a frame S at a speed of
u = 2 5c. Another
q frame S 0 is moving with respect to S along the x direction with a
speed of v = 25 c.
a) Find the x and y components of the particle’s ordinary velocity and also the x and
y components of the particle’s proper velocity in frame S.
b) Find the zeroth component of the particle’s proper velocity in frame S.
c) Find the components of the ordinary u0 and proper velocity η 0 in S 0 .
d) Show that
η 0 = γu0
3. We know that we can define an invariant quantity, ds2 as

ds2 = gµν dxµ dxν


We have been considering flat Minkowski spacetime in Cartesian coordinates where
we have
ds2 = c2 dt2 − dx2 − dy 2 − dz 2
This give us the metric tensor as
 
1 0 0 0
0 −1 0 0
gµν = 
0 0 −1 0 
0 0 0 −1
The inverse of the metric tensor is defined by the relation

gµν g νρ = δµ ρ
where
 
1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0
δµ ν =
0

0 1 0
0 0 0 1

1
and so  
1 0 0 0
0 −1 0 0
g µν = 
0 0 −1 0 
0 0 0 −1
Now let us consider the same spacetime in spherical polar coordinates.

ds2 = c2 dt2 − dr2 − r2 dθ2 + sin2 θdφ2




Find the metric and its inverse in this case.

We also define a quantity Γα βγ


 
α 1 αρ 1 αρ ∂gρβ ∂gργ ∂gβγ
Γ βγ ≡ g [∂γ gρβ + ∂β gργ − ∂ρ gβγ ] = g + −
2 2 ∂xγ ∂xβ ∂xρ
Find all the non-zero components of this quantity for the metric of flat Minkowski
spacetime in spherical polar coordinates. Remember that now the indices α, β, . . .
which take values 0, 1, 2, 3 will take values ct, r, θ, φ. So we will have components like
Γr θθ , Γθ θr etc.

4. An electron and a positron can form a bound state called positronium. Consider the
decay of positronium with binding energy Eb into two photons.

(a) A positronium atom is at rest and decays into two photons. Calculate the energy,
momentum and the frequency of the photons.

(b) Now suppose the positronium is moving with a velocity v away from an observer.
The positronium decays and the observer observes one of the photons. Calculate
the energy, momentum, velocity and the frequency of the photon observed by the
observer.

5. Given that

φ=0 A = A0 sin(kx − ωt)ŷ


where A0 , ω and k are constants. Find E and B and show that if a condition is imposed
on the constants, the fields satisfy Maxwell’s equations in a vacuum. What condition
needs to be imposed to ensure this?

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