Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 36 - Relativity - Conceptual Questions - Page 1097: 9

Answer

If the train travels at a speed of at least $0.6~c$, then according to experimenters on the ground, the whole train will fit inside the tunnel at one time.

Work Step by Step

As the train moves with a certain speed relative to the observers, the observers will see that the length of the train decreases due to length contraction. We can find the required speed: $L = L_0~\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}$ $0.80~L_0 = L_0~\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}$ $0.80 = \sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}$ $(0.80)^2 = 1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}$ $\frac{v^2}{c^2} = 1 - (0.80)^2$ $v^2 = [1 - (0.80)^2~]~c^2$ $v = \sqrt{1 - (0.80)^2}~c$ $v = 0.6~c$ If the train travels at a speed of at least $0.6~c$, then according to experimenters on the ground, the whole train will fit inside the tunnel at one time.
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