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 - Exercises and Problems - Page 1099: 28

Answer

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Work Step by Step

Let's assume that at $t=0$, the three frames are overlapping at the origin point (0,0) of the $S$ frame. In other words, the three origins are at the same point at $t=0$ s. $$\color{blue}{\bf [a]}$$ For frame $S'$; As the author told us, we will use Lorentz transformation for space. $$x'=\gamma(x-vt)$$ where $\gamma=\left[1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}\right]^{-1/2}=\left[1-\frac{0.8^2\color{red}{\bf\not}c^2}{\color{red}{\bf\not}c^2}\right]^{-1/2}=\bf \frac{5}{3}$, and $v=0.8c$ Hence, $$x'=\frac{5}{3}(x-0.8ct)$$ Plug the known; $$x'=\frac{5}{3}(1200-[0.8\times 3\times 10^8][2\times 10^{-6}])$$ $$x'=\color{red}{\bf 1200}\;\rm m$$ Using Lorentz transformation for time. $$t'=\gamma\left[t-\dfrac{vx}{c^2}\right] =\frac{5}{3}\left[t-\dfrac{0.8 cx}{c^2}\right] $$ $$t'= \frac{5}{3}\left[t-\dfrac{0.8 x}{c }\right] $$ Plug the known; $$t'= \frac{5}{3}\left[(2\times 10^{-6})-\dfrac{0.8 (1200)}{(3\times 10^8) }\right] $$ $$t'=\color{red}{\bf -2.0}\;\rm \mu s$$ $$\color{blue}{\bf [b]}$$ For frame $S''$; As the author told us, we will use Lorentz transformation for space. $$x''=\gamma(x-vt)$$ where $\gamma=\left[1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}\right]^{-1/2}=\left[1-\frac{0.8^2\color{red}{\bf\not}c^2}{\color{red}{\bf\not}c^2}\right]^{-1/2}=\bf \frac{5}{3}$, and $v=-0.8c$ Hence, $$x''=\frac{5}{3}(x+0.8ct)$$ Plug the known; $$x''=\frac{5}{3}(1200+[0.8\times 3\times 10^8][2\times 10^{-6}])$$ $$x''=\color{red}{\bf 2800}\;\rm m$$ Using Lorentz transformation for time. $$t''=\gamma\left[t-\dfrac{vx}{c^2}\right] =\frac{5}{3}\left[t+\dfrac{0.8 cx}{c^2}\right] $$ $$t''= \frac{5}{3}\left[t+\dfrac{0.8 x}{c }\right] $$ Plug the known; $$t''= \frac{5}{3}\left[(2\times 10^{-6})+\dfrac{0.8 (1200)}{(3\times 10^8) }\right] $$ $$t''=\color{red}{\bf 8.67}\;\rm \mu s$$
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