PH1101

Problem Set
Unit-5
Special Theory of Relativity
1) Write Galilean transformation relations between two inertial frames. Show that Newton’s
second law remains invariant under this transformation.
2) A particle of m1 =3 kg, moving at a velocity of u1=4 m/s along the x-axis of frame S,
approaches a second particle of mass m2=1 kg, moving at a velocity u2=-3 m/s along this
axis. After a head-on collision, it is found that m2 has a velocity U2=+3 m/s along the x-
axis.
(a) Calculate the velocity U1 of m1 after the collision.
(b) This collision is seen by an observer in the S’ frame who has a velocity v=+2
m/s along x-axis. Show that the conservation of linear momentum is valid in S’
frame as well.
(2m/s)
3) What was the objective of Michelson-Morley’s experiment? What did they expect to
observe in this experiment? What did they actually observe? What was the implication of
this observation?
4) Write the postulates of special theory of relativity.
5) Write Lorentz’s transformation relations between two inertial frames. Show that a
moving object gets contracted along its direction of motion.
6) Write Lorentz’s transformation relations between two inertial frames. Show that the time
interval read by a moving clock gets dilated.
7) Write Lorentz’s transformation relations between two inertial frames. Show that
remains invariant under this transformation.
8) A rod of proper length 1.0 m is moving along its length with a velocity 0.6 c with respect
to the earth. Calculate its length measured by an observer (a) on the earth; (b) moving
with the rod itself. (0.8 m,
1 m)
9) A clock in a spaceship emits signals at intervals of 1.000 second as observed by an
astronaut in the spaceship. If the spaceship travels with a speed of 3.000x107m/sec, what
 is the interval between successive signals as seen by an observer at the control center on
the ground? (1.005 sec)
10) Muons have an average life time of 2 microseconds in their own frame of reference. In a
beam of cosmic ray muons has a speed of 0.98c relative to earth. Find the average life
time of these muons with respect to an observer on earth surface. Also find and the
distance travelled by the beam during the life interval. (10 μs, 2.94 km)
11) Calculate the distance traversed by a particle during one mean life if it travels with a
speed of 2.2x 1010 cm/ sec. Given proper mean life =2.5x10-8sec. (809 cm)
12) The measured volume of a cube is 1.0 m3 when kept at rest. One side of the cube is
aligned to x-axis. Find its volume measured by an observer who is moving with a
constant speed of 0.95c along positive x-axis with respect to it. (0.31 m3)
13) Two events separated by a distance of 1000 km are found to be simultaneous to an
observer on the earth surface. What will be the observed time gap between the events by
the pilot of a high speed rocket moving with a constant speed of 0.90c with respect to the
earth surface? (6.9 ms)
14) An experimenter observes a radioactive atom moving with a velocity of 0.25c. The atom
then emits a β particle which has a velocity of 0.9c relative to the atom in the direction of
its motion. What is the velocity of the β particle as observed by the experimenter?
(0.94 c)
15) An electron is moving with a constant speed of 0.85c in a direction opposite to that of a
moving photon. Calculate the relative velocity of the photon with respect to the electron.
(c)
-8
16) What is the velocity of a π meson whose proper mean life is 2.50x10 sec. and observed
mean life is 2.50x10-7 sec? (0.995 c)
17) An electron is moving with speed 0.40c along x axis in the laboratory frame. Another
electron is moving with -0.50c along the same axis. Calculate the speed of the 2nd
electron with respect to the first one. (-0.75c)
o
18) A ball is moving in the x-y plane with a speed of 0.50c making an angle of 45 with the x
axis. Find the x and y components of the velocity of the ball with respect to an observer
moving with constant speed of 0.90c along positive x axis. (-0.80c, 0.23c)
19) An electron (rest mass 9.1x10-31kg) is moving with speed 0.99c. What is its total energy?
Find the ratio of the Newtonian kinetic energy to the relativistic energy. (c=3.0x108
meter/sec.) (5.8 X 10-13 Joule, 0.08)
20) Find the momentum of a photon of frequency .
(6.0 X10-28 kgm/s)