The Theory of Special Relativity

Ch 37

Two Theories of Relativity

Special Relativity (1905)
Inertial Reference frames only Time dilation Length Contraction Momentum and mass (E=mc2)

General Relativity
Noninertial reference frames (accelerating frames too) Explains gravity and the curvature of space time

Classical and Modern Physics

Classical Physics Larger, slow moving Newtonian Mechanics EM and Waves Thermodynamics Modern Physics Relativity Fast moving objects Quantum Mechanics very small

Speed

10% c

Classical

Relativistic

Size

Atomic/molecular size

Quantum

Classical

Correspondence Principle
Below 10% c, classical mechanics holds (relativistic effects are minimal) Above 10%, relativistic mechanics holds (more general theory)

Inertial Reference Frames

Reference frames in which the law of inertia holds Constant velocity situations
Standing Still Moving at constant velocity (earth is mostly inertial, though it does rotate)

 Basic laws of physics are the same in all inertial reference frames All inertial reference frames are equally valid

Speed of Light Problem

According to Maxwells Equations, c did not vary Light has no medium Some postulated ether that light moved through No experimental confirmation of ether (Michelson-Morley experiment)

Two Postulates of Special Relativity

Einstein (1905) The laws of physics are the same in all inertial reference frames Light travels through empty space at c, independent of speed of source or observer

There is no absolute reference frame of time and space

Simultaneity
Time always moves forward Time measured between things can vary

Lightning strikes point A and B at the same time O will see both at the same time and call them simultaneous

Moving Observers 1
On train O2 - train O1 moves to the right On train O1 train O2 moves to the left

Moving Observers 2
Lightning strikes A and B at same time as both trains are opposite one another

 Train O2 will observe the strikes as simultaneous Train O1 will observe strike B first (not simultaneous

Neither reference frame is correct. Time is NOT absolute

Time Dilation
Consider light beam reflected and observed on a moving spaceship and from the ground

.
Distance is shorter from the ship Distance is longer from the ground c = D/t Since D is longer from the ground, so t must be too.

On Spaceship:
c = 2D/Dto Dto = 2D/c On Earth: c = 2 D2 + L2 Dt v = 2L/Dt L = vDt 2

c = 2 D2 + v2 (Dt)2/4 Dt

c2 = 4D2 + v2 Dt2
Dt = 2D c 1 v2/c2 Dt = Dto 1 - v2/c2

Dt =

Dto 1 - v2/c2

Dto
Proper time time interval when the 2 events are at the same point in space In this example, on the spaceship

Is this real? Experimental Proof

1. Jet planes (clocks accurate to nanoseconds) 2. Elementary Particles muon
Lifetime is 2.2 ms at rest Much longer lifetime when travelling at high speeds

Time Dilation: Ex 1
What is the lifetime of a muon travelling at 0.60 c (1.8 X 108 m/s) if its rest lifetime is 2.2 ms? Dt = Dto 1 - v2/c2

Dt = (2.2 X 10-6 s) = 2.8 X 10-6 s 1- (0.60c)2 1/2 c2

Time Dilation: Ex 2
If our apatosaurus aged 10 years, calculate how many years will have passed for his twin brother if he travels at: a) light speed b) light speed c) light speed

Time Dilation: Ex 2
a) 10.3 y b) 11.5 y c) 10.5 y

Time Dilation: Ex 3
How long will a 100 year trip (as observed from earth) seem to the astronaut who is travelling at 0.99 c? Dt = Dto 1 - v2/c2 Dto = Dt 1 - v2/c2 Dto = 4.5 y

Time Dilation: Ex 3
If our apatosaurus aged 10 years, and his brother aged 70 years, calculate the apatosaurus average speed for his trip. (Express your answer in terms of c).

ANS: 0.99 c

Length Contraction
Observers from earth would see a spaceship shorten in the length of travel

 Only shortens in direction of travel The length of an object is measured to be shorter when it is moving relative to an observer than when it is at rest.

Dto = Dt 1 - v2/c2 v=L Dto = L/v Dto Dt = Lo/v

Lo = v L v 1 - v2/c2

(L is from spacecraft)

L = Lo 1 - v2/c2

L = Lo 1 - v2/c2
Lo = Proper Length (at rest) L = Length in motion (from stationary observer)

Length Contraction: Ex 1
A painting is 1.00 m tall and 1.50 m wide. What are its dimensions inside a spaceship moving at 0.90 c?

Length Contraction: Ex 2
What are its dimensions to a stationary observer? Still 1.00 m tall L = Lo 1 - v2/c2 L = (1.50 m)( 1 - (0.90 c)2/c2) L = 0.65 m

Length Contraction: Ex 3
The apatosaurus had a length of about 25 m. Calculate the dinosaurs length if it was running at: a) lightspeed b) lightspeed c) 95% lightspeed

a) 21.7 m b) 15.5 n c) 7.8 m

Four-Dimensional Space-Time
Consider a meal on a train (stationary observer) Meal seems to take longer to observer Meal plate is more narrow to observer

 Move faster Time is longer but length is shorter Move slower Time is shorter but length is longer Time is the fourth dimension

Momentum and the Mass Increase

p = mov 1 - v2/c2

Mass increases with speed mo = proper (rest) mass m = mo 1 - v2/c2

Mass Increase: Ex 1
Calculate the mass of an electron moving at 4.00 X 107 m/s in the CRT of a television tube. m = mo 1 - v2/c2

m = 9.11 X 10-31 kg 1 - (4.00 X 107 m/s)2/c2

= 9.19 X 10-31 kg

Mass Increase: Ex 2
Calculate the mass of an electron moving at 0.98 c in an accelerator for cancer therapy. m = mo 1 - v2/c2

m = 9.11 X 10-31 kg 1 - (0.98c)2/c2

= 4.58 X 10-30 kg (5mo)

The Speed Limit

Nothing below the speed of light can be accelerated to the speed of light Would require infinite energy
Mass becomes infinite Length goes to zero Time becomes infinite

Mass Increase: Ex 2
The apatosaurus had a mass of about 35,000 kg. Calculate the dinosaurs mass if it was running at: a) lightspeed b) lightspeed c) 95% lightspeed

a) 40,415 kg b) 53,915 kg c) 112,090 kg

Relativistic Momentum
p = mov 1 - v2/c2

E=
Particle at Rest E = moc2 E = Total Energy mo = Rest mass c = speed of light Moving Particles E2 = mo2c4 + p2c2

2 mc

E = moc2 + KE rest kinetic KE does not equal mv2 at energy energy relativistic speeds

E=mc2: Ex 1
How much energy would be released if a p0 meson (mo=2.4 X 10-28 kg) decays at rest. E = mc2 E = moc2 (particle is at rest) E = (2.4 X 10-28 kg)(3.0 X 108 m/s)2 E = 2.16 X 10-11 J

E=mc2: Ex 2
A p0 meson (mo=2.4 X 10-28 kg) travels at 0.80 c. a. Calculate the new mass [4 X 10-28 kg] b. Calculate the relativistic momentum [9.6 X 10-20 kg m/s] c. Calculate the energy of the particle (E2 = mo2c4 + p2c2 ) [ANS: 3.6 X 10-11 J]

E=mc2 + KE: Ex 3
What is the kinetic energy of the p0 meson in the former example. E = moc2 + KE KE = E moc2 KE = 3.6 X 10-11J - (2.4 X 10-28 kg)(3.0X108 m/s)2 KE = 1.4 X 10-11 J

E=mc2 + KE
An electron is moving at 0.999c in the CERN accelerator. a. Calculate the rest energy b. Calculate the relativistic momentum c. Calculate the relativistic energy d. Calculate the Kinetic energy

Electron Volts
1 eV= 1.6 X 10-19 J 1 MeV = 106 eV = 1.60 X 10-13 J

What is the rest mass of an electron in MeV? E = mc2 E = moc2 (particle is at rest) E = (9.11 X 10-31 kg)(3.0 X 108 m/s)2 E = 8.20 X 10-14 J

8.20 X 10-14 J 1 MeV 1.60 X 10-13 J

= 0.511 MeV/c2

Relativistic Addition of Velocity

Classical Addition
Bus moves at 40 mph You walk to the front at 5 mph Overall speed = 45 mph

Relativistic Addition
Cannot simply add velocities above ~0.10 c Length and time are in different reference frames Formula u = v + u 1 + vu/c2 u = overall speed with respect to stationary observer v = speed of moving object with respect to st. observer u =speed of 2nd object with respect to moving observer

Relativistic Addition: Ex 1
What is the speed of the second stage of the rocket shown with respect to the earth?

u = v + u 1 + vu/c2 u = 0.60c + 0.60c 1 + [(0.60c)(0.60c)/c2 ] u = 0.88 c

(classical addition would give you 1.20c, over the speed of light)

Relativistic Addition: Ex 2
Suppose a car travelling at 0.60c turns on its headlights. What is the speed of the light travelling out from the car?
u = v + u 1 + vu/c2 u = 0.60c + c 1 + [(0.60c)(c)/c2 ] u=c = 1.60c 1.60

Relativistic Addition: Ex 3
Now the car is travelling at c and turns on its headlights.
u = v + u 1 + vu/c2 u=c+ c = 1 + [(c)(c)/c2 ] u=c 2c 2