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Online Course Support | Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity

The spaceships of Bob and Alice sit side-by-side at a spaceport. They measure them and both agree that each spaceship is 26 meters long. Alice takes off and Bob observes Alice’s spaceship go by at a constant velocity such that the Lorentz factor is 2. Alice measures the length of Bob’s ship as she flies by. What value does she get?
ByAdmin July 27, 2021July 29, 2021

4. Question 4 The spaceships of Bob and Alice sit side-by-side at a spaceport. They measure them and both agree that each spaceship is 26 meters long. Alice takes off…

Read More The spaceships of Bob and Alice sit side-by-side at a spaceport. They measure them and both agree that each spaceship is 26 meters long. Alice takes off and Bob observes Alice’s spaceship go by at a constant velocity such that the Lorentz factor is 2. Alice measures the length of Bob’s ship as she flies by. What value does she get?
Online Course Support | Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity

Consider Alice’s spaceship with the paintball apparatus that shoots two paintballs toward clocks at opposite ends of her ship, each with speed S relative to the apparatus (similar to the video lecture). Assume that Alice has properly synchronized her clocks, that her spaceship is moving with speed V to the right (in the positive x direction) relative to Bob, that S is greater than V, and that S and V are much less than the speed of light. True or false: In Bob’s frame of reference, the two paintballs will hit Alice’s clocks simultaneously.
ByAdmin July 27, 2021July 29, 2021

1. Question 1 Consider Alice’s spaceship with the paintball apparatus that shoots two paintballs toward clocks at opposite ends of her ship, each with speed S relative to the apparatus…

Read More Consider Alice’s spaceship with the paintball apparatus that shoots two paintballs toward clocks at opposite ends of her ship, each with speed S relative to the apparatus (similar to the video lecture). Assume that Alice has properly synchronized her clocks, that her spaceship is moving with speed V to the right (in the positive x direction) relative to Bob, that S is greater than V, and that S and V are much less than the speed of light. True or false: In Bob’s frame of reference, the two paintballs will hit Alice’s clocks simultaneously.
Online Course Support | Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity

Given that muons travel at 0.998 times the speed of light when they are created in the upper atmosphere by cosmic rays, why is it surprising that they reach the surface of the Earth?
ByAdmin July 27, 2021July 29, 2021

6. Question 6 Given that muons travel at 0.998 times the speed of light when they are created in the upper atmosphere by cosmic rays, why is it surprising that…

Read More Given that muons travel at 0.998 times the speed of light when they are created in the upper atmosphere by cosmic rays, why is it surprising that they reach the surface of the Earth?
Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity

Consider Alice’s spaceship with the light pulse apparatus that shoots two light pulses toward clocks at opposite ends of her ship, each with speed c relative to the apparatus (as drawn in the video lecture). Assume that Alice has properly synchronized her clocks, that her spaceship is moving with speed V to the right (in the positive x direction) relative to Bob, and that c is greater than V. True or false: In Alice’s frame of reference, the two light pulses will hit the clocks simultaneously (i.e., each clock will read the same time when the light pulses hit).
ByAdmin July 27, 2021July 29, 2021

2. Question 2 Consider Alice’s spaceship with the light pulse apparatus that shoots two light pulses toward clocks at opposite ends of her ship, each with speed c relative to…

Read More Consider Alice’s spaceship with the light pulse apparatus that shoots two light pulses toward clocks at opposite ends of her ship, each with speed c relative to the apparatus (as drawn in the video lecture). Assume that Alice has properly synchronized her clocks, that her spaceship is moving with speed V to the right (in the positive x direction) relative to Bob, and that c is greater than V. True or false: In Alice’s frame of reference, the two light pulses will hit the clocks simultaneously (i.e., each clock will read the same time when the light pulses hit).
Online Course Support | Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity

Consider Alice’s spaceship with the paintball apparatus that shoots two paintballs toward clocks at opposite ends of her ship, each with speed S relative to the apparatus (similar to the video lecture). Assume that Alice has properly synchronized her clocks, that her spaceship is moving with speed V to the right (in the positive x direction) relative to Bob, that S is greater than V, and that S and V are much less than the speed of light. True or false: In Alice’s frame of reference, the two paintballs will hit the clocks simultaneously (i.e., each clock will read the same time when the paintballs hit).
ByAdmin July 27, 2021July 29, 2021

1. Question 1 Consider Alice’s spaceship with the paintball apparatus that shoots two paintballs toward clocks at opposite ends of her ship, each with speed S relative to the apparatus…

Read More Consider Alice’s spaceship with the paintball apparatus that shoots two paintballs toward clocks at opposite ends of her ship, each with speed S relative to the apparatus (similar to the video lecture). Assume that Alice has properly synchronized her clocks, that her spaceship is moving with speed V to the right (in the positive x direction) relative to Bob, that S is greater than V, and that S and V are much less than the speed of light. True or false: In Alice’s frame of reference, the two paintballs will hit the clocks simultaneously (i.e., each clock will read the same time when the paintballs hit).
Online Course Support | Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity

Let the relative velocity between two frames of reference be given by V. If V could be equal to the speed of light, what would the value of the Lorentz factor be?
ByAdmin July 27, 2021July 29, 2021

8. Question 8 Let the relative velocity between two frames of reference be given by V. If V could be equal to the speed of light, what would the value…

Read More Let the relative velocity between two frames of reference be given by V. If V could be equal to the speed of light, what would the value of the Lorentz factor be?
Online Course Support | Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity

Consider two identical light clocks, designed as explained in lecture. Bob has one, and Alice takes the other on her spaceship and flies by Bob at speed V. Bob observes Alice’s clock as Alice flies by. Which of the following statements is true?
ByAdmin July 27, 2021July 29, 2021

7. Question 7 Consider two identical light clocks, designed as explained in lecture. Bob has one, and Alice takes the other on her spaceship and flies by Bob at speed…

Read More Consider two identical light clocks, designed as explained in lecture. Bob has one, and Alice takes the other on her spaceship and flies by Bob at speed V. Bob observes Alice’s clock as Alice flies by. Which of the following statements is true?
Online Course Support | Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity

Let Bob have a spaceship with a clock at each end, both of which are synchronized in his frame of reference. Alice has an identical spaceship with a clock at each end, both of which are synchronized in her frame of reference. Her spaceship is docked at the local spaceport, with the front end pointed to the right (positive x direction). Meanwhile, Bob flies by in his ship at a speed V heading to the right (positive x direction). Alice observes Bob’s clocks as he flies by. What does she observe, according to her frame of reference (and lattice of synchronized clocks)? (Tip: Sometimes it helps to draw a picture to visualize what’s going on.)
ByAdmin July 27, 2021July 29, 2021

3. Question 3 Let Bob have a spaceship with a clock at each end, both of which are synchronized in his frame of reference. Alice has an identical spaceship with…

Read More Let Bob have a spaceship with a clock at each end, both of which are synchronized in his frame of reference. Alice has an identical spaceship with a clock at each end, both of which are synchronized in her frame of reference. Her spaceship is docked at the local spaceport, with the front end pointed to the right (positive x direction). Meanwhile, Bob flies by in his ship at a speed V heading to the right (positive x direction). Alice observes Bob’s clocks as he flies by. What does she observe, according to her frame of reference (and lattice of synchronized clocks)? (Tip: Sometimes it helps to draw a picture to visualize what’s going on.)
Online Course Support | Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity

Consider two identical light clocks, designed as explained in lecture. Bob has one, and Alice takes the other on her spaceship and flies by Bob at speed V. Bob observes Alice’s clock. What is the relationship between a certain amount of elapsed time on Bob’s clock and the corresponding elapsed time on Alice’s clock, as observed by Bob (where γ represents the Lorentz factor)?
ByAdmin July 27, 2021July 29, 2021

9. Question 9 Consider two identical light clocks, designed as explained in lecture. Bob has one, and Alice takes the other on her spaceship and flies by Bob at speed…

Read More Consider two identical light clocks, designed as explained in lecture. Bob has one, and Alice takes the other on her spaceship and flies by Bob at speed V. Bob observes Alice’s clock. What is the relationship between a certain amount of elapsed time on Bob’s clock and the corresponding elapsed time on Alice’s clock, as observed by Bob (where γ represents the Lorentz factor)?
Online Course Support | Understanding Einstein: The Special Theory of Relativity

Let the relative velocity between two frames of reference be given by V. If V = 0, what is value of the Lorentz factor?
ByAdmin July 27, 2021July 29, 2021

8. Question 8 Let the relative velocity between two frames of reference be given by V. If V = 0, what is value of the Lorentz factor? 1 point …

Read More Let the relative velocity between two frames of reference be given by V. If V = 0, what is value of the Lorentz factor?

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