Physics Technology Update (4th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32190-308-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-32190-308-2

Chapter 29 - Relativity - Problems and Conceptual Exercises - Page 1042: 32

Answer

a) $120m$ b) $150m$ c) $v=0.60c$

Work Step by Step

(a) It is given that that the ships are identical with the same relative speed; therefore, according to your point of view, your friend's ship is $120m$ long. (b) We know that in the rest frame of your friend, he measured his ship to be $150m$. As both the ships are identical, you measure your ship in your rest frame as $150m$. (c) We know that $v=c\sqrt{1-\frac{L^2}{L_{\circ}^2}}$ We plug in the known values to obtain: $v=c\sqrt{1-(\frac{120m}{150m})^2}$ $v=0.60c$
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