1

1
Relativity I


1-1 =
d
F
dt
P
. Consider the special case of constant mass. Then, this equation reduces to =
A A
m F a
in the stationary reference system, and = +
B A BA
v v v where the subscript A indicates that
the measurement is made in the laboratory frame, B the moving frame, and
BA
v is the
velocity of B with respect to A. It is given that =
BA
1
d
dt
v
a . Therefore from differentiating the
velocity equation, we have = +
B A 1
a a a . Assuming mass is invariant, and the forces are
invariant as well, the Newtons law in frame B should be = =

A B 1
m m m F a a a , which is
not simply
B
ma . So Newtons second law =

B
m F a is invalid in frame B. However, we can
rewrite it as + =

1 B
m m F a a , which compares to + =

B
m m F g a . It is as if there were a
universal gravitational field g acting on everything. This is the basic idea of the equivalence
principle (General Relativity) where an accelerated reference frame is equivalent to a
reference frame with a universal gravitation field.

1-2 IN THE REST FRAME:
In an elastic collision, energy and momentum are conserved.

= + = = +
i 1 1i 2 2i f 1 1f 2 2f
p m v m v p m v m v

or =
1 1i 1f 2 2i 2f
( ) ( ) m v v m v v . The energy equation is

= = + = +
2 2 2 2
i f 1 1i 2 2i 1 1f 2 2f
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
E E m v m v m v m v

or ( )( ) ( )( ) + = +
1 1i 1f 1i 1f 2 2i 2f 2i 2f
m v v v v m v v v v . Substituting the momentum equation
into the energy equation yields a very simple and general result (true even for three-
dimensional collision if the velocities are replaced as vectors) ( ) ( ) + = +
1i 1f 2i 2f
v v v v or as
Newton put it originally, the final relative velocity is opposite to the initial relative velocity:

( )
( )
=
1 2 1 2 i i f f
v v v v

2 CHAPTER 1 RELATIVITY I
for elastic collision (and a fraction of the initial for general collisions). Now, putting in the
numerical values, the momentum equation, and this relative velocity equation gives:
+ = + =
1 1f 2 2f 1f 2f
0.3 0.2 0.9 kg m s m v m v v v , and ( ) ( ) ( ) =
1f 2f
5 3 v v . Solving the two
equations, two unknowns, we find =
1f
1.4 m s v and = +
2f
6.6 m s v .

IN THE MOVING FRAME:
The Galilean velocity transformations hold.

( )( ) ( )( )
( ) ( )( )
= =
= = =
= + = =
= + = =
=
1i
2i 2i
3
i 1 1i 2 2i
f f f f
3
f
20 m s 10 m s 10 m s
0 m s 10 m s 10 m s
2 000 kg 10 m s 1 500 kg 10 m s 5 10 kg m s
2 000 kg 1 500 kg 3 500 kg 10 m s , and because 11.4 m s ,
5 10 kg m s
v v
v v v
p m v m v
p v v v
p


1-3 IN THE REST FRAME:
In an elastic collision energy and momentum are conserved.


( )( ) ( )( ) = + = + =
= +
i 1 1i 2 2i
f 1 1f 2 2f
0.3 kg 5 m s 0.2 kg 3 m s 0.9 kg m s p m v m v
p m v m v


This equation has two unknowns, therefore, apply the conservation of kinetic energy
= = + = +
2 2 2 2
i f 1 1i 2 2i 1 1f 2 2f
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
E E m v m v m v m v and conservation of momentum one finds that
=
1f
1.31 m s v and =
2f
6.47 m s v or =
1f
1.56 m s v and =
2f
6.38 m s v . The difference in
values is due to the rounding off errors in the numerical calculations of the mathematical
quantities. If these two values are averaged the values are =
1f
1.4 m s v and =
2f
6.6 m s v ,
=
f
0.9 kg m s p . Thus, =
i f
p p .

IN THE MOVING FRAME:
Make use of the Galilean velocity transformation equations. = +
i 1 1i 2 2i
p m v m v ; where
( )
= = =
1i 1i
5 m s 2 m s 7 m s v v v . Similarly, =
2i
1 m s v and =
i
1.9 kg m s p . To
find
f
p use =
1f 1i
v v v and =
2f 2i
v v v because the prime system is now moving to the
left. Using these results give =
f
1.9 kg m s p .

1-4 (a) In all cases one wants the speed of the plane relative to the ground. For the upwind
and downwind legs, where v in the figure is given by
( )

1 2
2 2
c v


+
| |
= + =
|
+
\ .
2 2
2 1
1
u d
L L L
t
c v c v c v c
.

For the crosswind case, the planes speed along L is
( )
=
1 2
2 2
v c v

MODERN PHYSICS 3

( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( )
+
= =

| |
= =
|

\ .
= =
2 2 2
2 2
2 2 1
1
2 100 mi 1
0.416 7 h
500 mi h 1 100 500
2 100 mi 1
0.408 2 h
500 mi h 0.96
c
u d
c
L L
t
c
c v v c
t
t

c v
c + v
L
v
upwind
v
v L
c
crosswind


(b)
+
= = 0.008 5 h 0.009 h
u d c
t t t or 0.510 min 0.5 min

1-5 This is a case of dilation. = T T in this problem with the proper time =
0
T T


( )

( (
| |
= =
|
( (
\ .

1 2 1 2
2 2
0
0
1 1
T v v
T T
c c T
;

in this case =
0
2 T T ,
( )

(
(
= =
`
(
(


)
1 2
2
1 2
0
0
2 1
1 1
4
L
v
L
therefore = 0.866 v c .

1-6 This is a case of length contraction.

=
L
L in this problem the proper length =
0
L L ,

(
( | |
= =
(
| (
\ . (

1 2
1 2 2
2
0
2
0
1 1
v L
L L v c
L c
; in this case =
0
2
L
L ,
( )

(
(
= =
`
(
(


)
1 2
2
1 2
0
0
2 1
1 1
4
L
v
L
therefore = 0.866 v c .

1-7 The problem is solved by using time dilation. This is also a case of << v c so the binomial
expansion is used
(
= +
(

2
2
1
2
v
t t t
c
,

=
2
2
2
v t
t t
c
;
( ) (
=
(


1 2
2
2c t t
v
t
;
( )( ) = = 24 h day 3 600 s h 86 400 s t ; = = 1 86 399 s t t ;


( ) (
= = =
(

1 2
6
2 86 400 s 86 399 s
0.004 8 1.44 10 m s
86 399 s
v c .

1-8

=
L
L

( ) ( )

(
= =
(

( (
= = =
( (

1 2
2
2
1 2 1 2
2 2
1
1
75
1 1 0.661
100
L v
L c
L
v c c c
L


4 CHAPTER 1 RELATIVITY I
1-9

=
earth
L
L

(
=
(

1 2
2
earth
2
1
v
L L
c
, L , the proper length so ( ) = = = (

1 2
2
earth
1 0.9 0.436 L L L L .

1-10 (a) = where =
v
c
and


( ) ( )
( )



| |
= = = = (
|
\ .
1 2
2
1 2 1 2
2 8 8 2
2
1 1 2.6 10 s 1 0.95 8.33 10 s
v
c


(b) ( )
( )( )
= = =
8 8
0.95 3 10 8.33 10 s 24 m d v

1-11 = t t

( )
( )
( )
( )( ) ( )

| | | |
( = + +
| |
(
\ . \ .

+ = +
2
1 2 2
2 2
2 2 2
8
13 9
4.0 10 m s
1 1 1 3 600 s
2
2 3.0 10 m s
1 8.89 10 3 600 s 3 600 3.2 10 s
v v
t t t
c c
3.2 ns t t . (Moving clocks run slower.)

1-12 (a) 70 beats/min or =
1
min
70
t

(b) ( )
( )

= = = (

1 2
2
1
1 0.9 min 0.032 8 min beat
70
t t or the number of beats per
minute 30.5 31.

1-13 (a) ( ) ( )

= = = (

1 2
2
1 0.95 2.2 s 7.05 s

(b)

= = =
3
5
3 10 m
1.05 10 s
0.95 0.95
d
t
c c
, therefore,


( )
( )
( )

= =
4 4
0
exp 5 10 muons exp 1.487 1.128 10 muons
t
N N .

1-14 (a) Only the x-component of
0
L contacts.


L0
Lx
Ly
v
0


MODERN PHYSICS 5

| |
( )
( )
( )

=
= =
(
| |
(
= + = +
(
|

\ . (

| | ( (
= + =
| ( (
\ .
0 0
0 0
0 0 0 0
1 2
2
1 2
2
2 2 0 0
0 0
1 2 1 2
2 2
2 2 2
0 0 0 0 0
2 2
cos
cos
sin sin
cos
sin
cos 1 sin 1 cos
x
x
y y
x y
L L
L L
L L L L
L
L L L L
v v
L L
c c


(b) As seen by the stationary observer,

= = =
0 0
0
0 0
sin
tan tan
cos
y
x
L
L
L L
.

1-15 (a) For a receding source we replace v by v in Equation 1.15 and obtain:


| |
| |
| |
| |
( )( )
( )


= =
` `
+
+ )
)
| |
+
|
\ .
1 2
1 2
ob source source source
1 2 1 2
2
source source
2
1
1 1
2 2
1
1 1
4
v c c v v v
f f f f
c c c v
v c
v v v
f f
c c c


where we have used the binomial expansion and have neglected terms of second and
higher order in
v
c
. Thus,

= =
ob source
source source
f f f v
f f c
.

(b) From the relations

=
c
f ,

=
2
df c
d
we find

=
2
c df
d
f c
, or

= =
f v
f c
.

(c) Assuming << v c ,

v
c
, or
( ) ( )

= = =
7
20 nm
0.050 1.5 10 m s
397 nm
v c c c .

1-16 For an observer approaching a light source,
( )
( )

(
=
(
+ (

1 2
ob source
1 2
1
1
v c
v c
. Setting =
v
c
and after
some algebra we find,


( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( )( )( )

= = =
+ +
= = =
2 2 2 2
source obs
2 2 2 2
source obs
1 7 8
650 nm 550 nm
0.166
650 nm 550 nm
0.166 4.98 10 m s 2.237 mi h m s 1.11 10 mi h. v c


1-17 (a) Galaxy A is approaching and as a consequence it exhibits blue shifted radiation.
From Example 1.6,

= =
+
2 2
source obs
2 2
source obs
v
c
so that
( ) ( )
( ) ( )

= =
+
2 2
2 2
550 nm 450 nm
0.198
550 nm 450 nm
.
Galaxy A is approaching at = 0.198 v c .

6 CHAPTER 1 RELATIVITY I
(b) For a red shift, B is receding.

= =
+
2 2
source obs
2 2
source obs
v
c
so that
( ) ( )
( ) ( )

= =
+
2 2
2 2
700 nm 550 nm
0.237
700 nm 550 nm
. Galaxy B is receding at = 0.237 v c .

1-18 (a) Let
c
f be the frequency as seen by the car. Thus,
+
=

source c
c v
f f
c v
and, if f is the
frequency of the reflected wave,
+
=

c
c v
f f
c v
. Combining these equations gives
( )
( )
+
=

source
c v
f f
c v
.

(b) Using the above result, ( ) ( ) = +
source
f c v f c v , which gives

( ) ( ) = +
source source source
2 f f c f f v f v .

The beat frequency is then

= = =
source
beat source
2 2 f v v
f f f
c
.

(c)
( )( ) ( )

= = = =

9
beat
8
2 30.0 m s 10.0 10 Hz
2 30.0 m s
2 000 Hz 2.00 kHz
0.030 0 m 3.00 10 m s
f


= = =

8
9
source
3.00 10 m s
3.00 cm
10.0 10 Hz
c
f


(d)

=
beat
2
f
v so,

( )( )
= = =
beat
5 Hz 0.030 0 m
0.075 0 m s 0.2 mi h
2 2
f
v

1-19 =
XA XB
u u ;

= =

2
0.7
1
XA XB
XA
XA XB
u u
u c
u u c
;
( )
=
+
2
2
0.70
1
XA
XA
u
c
u c
or + =
2 2
0.70 2 0.7 0
XA XA
u cu c .
Solving this quadratic equation one finds = 0.41
XA
u c therefore = = 0.41
XB XA
u u c .

1-20
( )( )
+ +
= = =
+ +
2 2
0.90 0.70
0.98
1 1 0.90 0.70
v u c c
u c
vu c c c c


1-21
( )( )

= = =

2 2
0.50 0.80
0.50
1 1 0.50 0.80
X
X
X
u v c c
u c
u v c c c c


1-22 (a) The speed as observed in the laboratory is found by using Equation 1.30:

=

2
1
X
X
X
u v
u
u v c
. But =
X
c
u
n
(speed measured by an observer moving with the
fluid), therefore
( )
( ) ( )
+ +
= =
+ +
1
1 1
X
c n v nv c c
u
v nc n v nc
.

MODERN PHYSICS 7
(b) << 1
v
c
. Use the binomial expansion,


( )
(
( (
+ + +
(
( (


2
2 2
1 1 1
X
c v v c nv v c v
u n v
n c nc n c n c n
.

1-23 (a) Let event 1 have coordinates = = = =
1 1 1 1
0 x y z t and event 2 have coordinates
=
2
100 mm x , = = =
2 2 2
0 y z t . In S , ( ) = =
1 1 1
0 x x vt , = =
1 1
0 y y , = =
1 1
0 z z , and

| | (
= =
|
(
\ .
1 1 1
2
0
v
t t x
c
, with

(
=
(

1 2
2
2
1
v
c
and so ( )

= = (

1 2
2
1 0.70 1.40 . In
system S , ( ) = =
2 2 2
140 m x x vt , = =
2 2
0 y z , and


( )( )( )

| | (
= = =
|
(
\ .
2 2 2
2 8
1.4 0.70 100 m
0.33 s
3.00 10 m s
v
t t x
c
.

(b) = =
2 1
140 m x x x

(c) Events are not simultaneous in S , event 2 occurs 0.33 s earlier than event 1.


1-24



( )( )
( )
| |


= = =

= =

2 2
2 1 2
0 0.90
0.90
1 1 0 0.90
0 0.90
0.392
1 0.81 1
x
x
x
y
y
x
u v c
u c
u v c c c
u
c
u c
u v c


The speed of A as measured by B is

( )
( )
( ) ( )
(
= + = + = (


1 2
2 1 2
2 2 2
0.90 0.392 0.982
AB x y
u u u c c c .

Classically, = 1.3
AB
u c .

Earth
+y
+x
Earth
A. u c
y
= 0 90 .
B. u c
x
= 0 90 .
0.90c
u
x
u
y
A
B. at rest
8 CHAPTER 1 RELATIVITY I
1-25 We find Carpenters speed: =
2
2
mGM mv
r r



( )( )

(
(
= = =
(
(
+ +
(

1 2
11 24
1 2
6 6
6.67 10 5.98 10
7.82 km s
6.37 10 0.16 10
GM
v
R h
.

Then the period of one orbit is
( ) ( )

+
= = =

6
3
3
2 6.53 10
2
5.25 10 s
7.82 10
R h
T
v
.

(a) The time difference for 22 orbits is ( ) ( )( )

(
| |
= = (
|
\ . (

1 2
2
2
1 1 1 22
v
t t t T
c
.
Using the binomial expansion one obtains

( )( ) ( )
( )

( | |
+ = =
( |

\ .
3 2
3
2 8
7.82 10 m s 1 1
1 1 22 22 5.5 10 s 39.2 s
2 2 3 10 m s
v
T
c
.

(b) For one orbit,

= =
39.2 s
1.78 s 2 s
22
t t . The press report is accurate to one
significant figure.

1-26 The observed length of an object moving with speed v is
( )
(
=
(

1 2
2
1
v
L L
c
with L being the
proper length. For the two ships, we know that =
2 1
L L , =
2 1
3 L L and =
1
0.35 v c . Thus
=
2 2
2 1
L L and
( )
( )
(
| |
= (
|
(
\ .

2
2 2 2 2
1 1
9 1 1 0.35
v
L L
c
, giving
| |
=
|
\ .
2
2
9 9 0.877 5
v
c
, or =
2
0.95 v c .

1-27 For the pion to travel 10 m in time t in our frame,


( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )

(
= = =
(

| |
=
|
\ .
= +
= =
1 2
2
9
2
2
8 2
2
17 2 2 2
8
10 m 26 10 s 1
3.85 10 m s 1
1.46 10 m s 1 1.64
2.37 10 m s 0.789
v
v t v t v
c
v
v
c
v
v c


1-28 For Astronauts approaching Alpha Centauri
( )
| |

(
= = =
(

1 2
2
1 1 2
1 1 0.902 0.312
v
c
.

(a) astronauts time ( )( )

= = =
1
0.312 4.4 y 1.37 years t t ,

(b) astronauts distance ( )( ) = = 0.312 4.2 light years 1.31 light years d .

MODERN PHYSICS 9
1-29 (a) A spaceship, reference frame S , moves at speed v relative to the Earth, whose
reference frame is S. The space ship then launches a shuttle craft with velocity v in
the forward direction. The pilot of the shuttle craft then fires a probe with velocity v
in the forward direction. Use the relativistic compounding of velocities as well as its
inverse transformation:
( )

2
1
x
x
x
u v
u
u v c
, and its inverse
( )
+
=
+
2
1
x
x
x
u v
u
u v c
. The
above variables are defined as: v is the spaceships velocity relative to S,
x
u is the
velocity of the shuttle craft relative to S , and
x
u is the velocity of the shuttle craft
relative to S. Setting
x
u equal to v, we find the velocity of the shuttle craft relative to
the Earth to be:
( )
=
+
2
2
1
x
v
u
v c
.

(b) If we now take S to be the shuttle crafts frame of reference and S to be that of the
probe whose speed is v relative to the shuttle craft, then the speed of the probe
relative to the spacecraft will be,
( )
=
+
2
2
1
x
v
u
v c
. Adding the speed relative to S
yields:
( )
( )
( + +
= =
(
+ + (

2 3 3
2 2 2
3 3
1 2 1 2
x
v c v v c
u
v c v c
. Using the Galilean transformation of
velocities, we see that the spaceships velocity relative to the Earth is v, the velocity of
the shuttle craft relative to the space ship is v and therefore the velocity of the shuttle
craft relative to the Earth must be 2v and finally the speed of the probe must be 3v. In
the limit of low
( )
2
v
c
,
x
u reduces to 3v. On the other hand, using relativistic addition
of velocities, we find that =
x
u c when v c .

1-30 mirror
light pulse
c
v
rocket
d
*


At the time = 0 t , a pulse of light leaves the rocket and travels a distance d to the mirror,
which is stationary in the reference frame S. The time taken for the pulse to reach the mirror
is =
1
d
t
c
where c is the velocity of the light pulse. During the time
1
t , the rocket has traveled
a distance =
1 1
l t v or =
1
dv
l
c
. At this instant, the rockets distance to the mirror is =
2 1
l d l or
( )
=
2
1
v
l d
c
. As the light pulse moves towards the rocket, the rocket approaches the pulse.


mirror
light pulse
c
v
rocket
d
v
c
1
F
H
I
K
*

10 CHAPTER 1 RELATIVITY I

(a) During some interval of time t , the distance covered by the rocket will be
=
1
x v t and the distance covered by the light pulse will be =
2
x c t . We require


( )
+ =
1 2
1
v
x x d
c
.

Solving for the time we obtain
| |
| |
= =
| |
+ + \ .
\ .
1 1
1
v c v c
t d d
v c v c
, and solving for the time of
travel of the light pulse from the initial position of the rocket to the mirror and then
from the mirror to the advanced position of the rocket, the total time of travel of the
light pulse will be:


+ + | | ( | |
= + = = =
| | (
+ + + +
\ . \ .
total
1 1 1 2 1 2
1 1 1
v c v c v c d d d d
t d
c v c c v c c v c v c
.

(b) From the front of the rocket, the above time
total
t will transform to:


( )
+ | | (
= + =
| (
+ +
\ .
1 2
2 2 2
total
2 1 2 1
1
1
d v c d v
t
c v c c v c


or one can mathematically simplify


( )
( )
( )
( )( )
( )( )
( + | | (
= + = =
( | (
+ + +
+ ( \ .

=
+
1 2
1 2 2
2
total
2
1 1 1 2 1 2 2
1
1 1 1
1
2
v c v c v c d v d d
t
c v c c c c v c v c
v c
d c v
c c v


We see that this expression reduces to the Galilean result of =
2d
t
c
in the limit as
0 v . Furthermore, when =
total
0 v ct because clocks in moving frames, which
travel with the speed of light are found to stop ticking when viewed by observers in
the stationary frame, and time shall be no more.

MODERN PHYSICS 11
1-31 In this case, the proper time is
0
T (the time measured by the students using a clock at rest
relative to them). The dilated time measured by the professor is: =
0
t T where = + t T t .
Here T is the time she waits before sending a signal and t is the time required for the signal
to reach the students. Thus we have: + =
0
T t T . To determine travel time t, realize that the
distance the students will have moved beyond the professor before the signal reaches them
is: ( ) = + d v T t . The time required for the signal to travel this distance is: ( ) = = +
d v
t T t
c c
.
Solving for t gives:
( ) ( )

=
1
1
v v
t T
c c
. Substituting this into the above equation for ( ) + T t
yields:
( ) ( )

+ =
1
0
1
v v
T T T
c c
, or
( )

=
1
0
1
v
T T
c
. Using the expression for this becomes:
( ) ( )

(
=
(

1 2
2
0
1 1
v v
T T
c c
, or
( ) ( ) ( )( )

( (
= = +
( (

1 2 1 2
2 1
0 0
1 1 1 1
v v v v
T T T
c c c c
.

1-32 The spacecrafts speed in the Earths reference frame is: = =
20 light-hours
0.8
25 hours
v c ,


( )
( )

(
= = =
(
(

1 2
2
1 2
2
1
1 1.67
1 0.8
v
c
.

The spacecrafts clocks tick through

= = =
25 h
15.0 h
1.67
t
t , ten hours less than in the
Earths frame.

1-33 (a) We in the spaceship moving past the hermit do not calculate the explosions to be
simultaneous. We measure the distance we have traveled from the Sun as


( )
( ) ( ) = = =
2
2
1 6.00 ly 1 0.800 3.60 ly
p
v
L L
c
.

We see the Sun flying away from us at 0.800c while the light from the Sun
approaches at 1.00c. Thus, the gap between the Sun and its blast wave has opened at
1.80c, and the time we calculate to have elapsed since the Sun exploded is
=
3.60 ly
2.00 yr.
1.80c
We see Tau Ceti as moving toward us at 0.800c, while its light
approaches at 1.00c, only 0.200c faster. We measure the gap between that star and its
blast wave as 3.60 ly and growing at 0.200c. We calculate that it must have been
opening for =
3.60 ly
18.0 yr
0.200c
and conclude that
Tau Ceti exploded 16.0 years before the Sun .

12 CHAPTER 1 RELATIVITY I
(b) Consider a hermit who lives on an asteroid halfway between the Sun and Tau Ceti,
stationary with respect to both. Just as our spaceship is passing him, he also sees the
blast waves from both explosions. Judging both stars to be stationary, this observer
concludes that the two stars blew up simultaneously .

1-34 (a)

=
L
L so = L L is the proper length where L is the measured length. Relative to
Earth, =
1
0.8 v c gives =
1
1.67 , and =
2
0.6 v c gives =
2
1.25 . As the measured
length is = 50 m L for each rocket, their respective proper lengths are
( )( ) = =
1
50 m 1.67 83.5 m L and ( )( ) = =
2
50 m 1.25 62.5 m L .

(b) Compute the speed of one rocket relative to the other by considering an observer in
rocket #1. He sees the Earth moving with velocity = 0.8 v c . The velocity addition
equation then gives the velocity of rocket #2 (relative to rocket #1) as:


( ) ( )
( )( )
+ +
= = = =
+ +
12
2 2
0.8 0.6 1.4
0.946
1.48 1 1 0.8 0.6
v u c c
u c
vu c c c c
.

(The subscript 12 is #2 relative to #1). Similarly, the velocity of #1 relative to #2 is
0.946c. The factor for the relative motion between the two rockets is =
12
3.08 .
The contracted length of rocket #2 as measured by an observer in #1 is:

= = =
2
2
12
62.5 m
20.3 m
3.08
L
L .

Similarly, the contracted length of #1 as measured by observer in #2 is:

= = =
1
1
12
83.5 m
27.1 m
3.08
L
L .

(c) Liz sees the initial 2.52x10
12
m gap between the rockets decreasing at a rate of 1.4c.
Thus according to her, the time before collision is:


( )

= = =

12
8
2.52 10 m
6 000 s 1.67 hours
1.4 3 10 m s
t .

(d) Liz, at rest in S, measures the proper length of the initial gap between the rockets.
The contracted initial gap as measured by an observer in rocket #1 is:

= = =
12
12
1
1
2.52 10 m
1.51 10 m
1.67
L
L .

The time before collision according to this observer is:

MODERN PHYSICS 13

( )

= = = =

12
1
1
8
12
1.51 10 m
5 321 s 1.47 hours
0.946 3 10 m s
L
t
u
.

(e) The contracted initial gap between the rockets as measured by an observer in rocket
#2 is:

= = =
12
12
2
2
2.52 10 m
2.02 10 m
1.25
L
L . The time before collision according to
this observer is:
( )

= = = =

12
2
2
8
12
2.02 10 m
7 104 s 1.97 hours
0.946 3 10 m s
L
t
u
.

(f) Since it requires 90 minutes (1.5 hours) on their own clock for each crew to evacuate,
the crew of rocket #2 makes it, but the crew of rocket #1 does not.

1-35 In the Earth frame, Speedos trip lasts for a time

= = =
20.0 ly
21.05
0.950 ly yr
x
t
v
Speedos age
advances only by the proper time interval:

= = =
2
21.05 yr 1 0.95 6.574 yr
p
t
t during his
trip. Similarly for Goslo,

= = =
2
2
2
20.0 ly
1 1 0.75 17.64 yr
0.750 ly yr
p
x v
t
v c
. While Speedo
has landed on Planet X and is waiting for his brother, he ages by

=
2
20.0 ly 0.20 ly
1 0.75 17.64 yr
0.750 ly yr 0.950 ly yr
.

Then Goslo ends up older by ( ) + = 17.64 yr 6.574 yr 5.614 yr 5.45 yr .

1-36 Let Suzanne be fixed in reference from S and see the two light-emission events with
coordinates =
1
0 x , =
1
0 t , =
2
0 x , =
2
3 s t . Let Mark be fixed in reference frame S and
give the events coordinate =
1
0 x , =
1
0 t , =
2
9 s t .

(a) Then we have

( )
| |
= = = = = = = = =
|
\ .

2 2
2 2 2
2 2 2
2 2
1 1 8
9 s 3 s 0 1 0.943
3 9
1
v v v
t t x v c
c c c
v c
.

(b) ( )
( )

| |
= = =
|
\ .
8
6 3
2 2 2
3 10 m s
3 0 0.943 3 10 s 2.55 10 m x x vt c
c


1-37 Einsteins reasoning about lightning striking the ends of a train shows that the moving
observer sees the event toward which she is moving, event B, as occurring first. We may take
the S-frame coordinates of the events as ( = 0 x , = 0 y , = 0 z , = 0 t ) and ( = 100 m x , = 0 y ,
= 0 z , = 0 t ). Then the coordinates in S are given by Equations 1.23 to 1.27. Event A is at
( = 0 x , = 0 y , = 0 z , = 0 t ). The time of event B is:

14 CHAPTER 1 RELATIVITY I
( )

| |
| | | |
= = = =
| | |
\ . \ .
\ .
7
2 2 8
2
1 0.8 80 m
0 100 m 1.667 4.44 10 s
3 10 m s
1 0.8
v c
t t x
c c
.

The time elapsing before A occurs is 444 ns.

1-38 Let the S be the Earth frame of reference. Then = 0.7 v c . The components of the velocity of
the first spacecraft are ( ) = = 0.6 cos 50 0.386
x
u c c and ( ) = = 0.6 sin50 0.459
y
u c c . As
measured from the S frame of the second spacecraft,


( )
( )( )
( )
( )
( )( )
( )

= = = =

= = = =

2 2
2
2
0.386 0.7 1.086
0.855
1.27 1 1 0.386 0.7
0.459 1 0.7 0.459 0.714
0.258
1 0.386 0.7 1.27 1
x
x
x
y
y
x
u v c c c
u c
u v c c c c
u
c
u c
u v c


The magnitude of u is ( ) ( ) + =
2 2
0.855 0.285 0.893 c c c , and its direction is at

=
1
0.258
tan 16.8
0.855
c
c
above the x -axis.

1-39 (a) For the satellite =

F ma :

| |
= =
|
\ .
2 2
2
2
E
r GM m mv m
r r T r



( )( )

=
| |
| = =
|
\ .
2 2 3
1 3
2 11 2 24
7
2 2
4
6.67 10 N m 5.98 10 kg 43 080 s
2.66 10 m
kg 4
E
GM T r
r


(b)
( )

= = =
7
3
2 2.66 10 m
2
3.87 10 m s
43 080 s
r
v
T


(c) The small fractional decrease in frequency received is equal in magnitude to the
fractional increase in period of the moving oscillator due to time dilation:


( )
( )

(
(
= =
(

(

| ( |
| |
= = | (
|
|

\ . (
\ .
2
3 8
2
3
11
8
1
fractional change in 1 1
1 3.87 10 3 10
1 3.87 10
1 1 8.34 10
2 3 10
f


(d) The orbit altitude is large compared to the radius of the Earth, so we must use
=
E
g
GM m
U
r
.

MODERN PHYSICS 15

( ) ( )
( )

= +

=

= = = +

11 2 24 11 2 24
2 7 2 6
7
7 2 2
10
2 2
8
6.67 10 N m 5.98 10 kg 6.67 10 N m 5.98 10 kg
kg 2.66 10 m kg 6.37 10 m
4.76 10 J kg
4.76 10 m s
5.29 10
3 10 m s
g
g
m m
U
m
U
f
f mc


(e)

+ = +
11 10 10
8.34 10 5.29 10 4.46 10

1-40 The slope of the ct -axis must be such that the origin O moves at velocity +v in frame S.
Using Equation 1.31, we find the slope of the ct axis must be
+
c
v
or between + and +1.
Because a light pulse moving in the +x direction starting from the origin is described by the
equation = x ct in frame S , the light pulse line must bisect the angle between the ct -axis
and the x -axis. Therefore the x -axis is rotated counterclockwise from the x-axis the same
amount as the ct -axis is rotated clockwise from the ct-axis.