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The energy and momentum of the particle in the frame S is
E= me= m,e'
(10.35)
and momentum P= mu = (10.36)
The corresponding quantities in the frame S' are
E'= m'e = (10.37)
m,u'
and P=m'u'= (10.38)
Now let us find
1 (u-v)
3=| 2
1
(
v'u? 2vu u
1+
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1 1
c
VU
1 2
(10.39)
Hence from equation (10.37)
VU
1-
E' = m,c
E- py (10.40)
or E'=
[From cquation (10.35)and equation (i0.36)]
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equation for energy.
This equation (10.40) is the transformation (10.39) in equation (10.38)
Now using equation (10.34) and equation
We get, p'=
1 m,v
Ev
p
p'= (10.41)
equation for momentum.
This equation (10.41) is the transformation
momentum and energy
10.16 Relation between relativistic
m' is
The total relativistic energy of a body having mass
E= me?
m,e
Where m, = rest mass.
= velocity of the body
and C = velocity of light
Again the momentum of body p= my or y=
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381
m,e? m,e'
Hence
p'e
m'e? m'e
or
Me?
:E=mc .. E=me|
E
Or E'=
or
Or
E-p'e =m,'e (10.42)
This equation (10.42) is the relation between relativistic momentum and total energy.
10.17 Relation between relativistic momentum and kinetic energy
The total relativistic energy is given by
E -Rest mass energy + kinetic energy (E,)
or E = m,c+ E, (i)
Again the relation between relativistic mnomentum and total energy is
E'-p'c =mc or E=(m,;e' +p'e?
Therefore, from equation (i) we get
(m,e +p'e =m,e' + E,
or m,e +p'c=m,e+2m,e*E, +E,!
or p' =2m,E, +
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E' 2 (10.43)
or
p=2m,E,
relativistic momentum and kinetic energy.
This equation (10.43) is therelation between
Solved Problems
with velocity 0.6c. Calculate
" 10.1. A 1metre long rod is moving along its length
earth (i) moving with the
the length as it appears to an observer (i) on the
rod itself.
Solution: The proper length of the rod L, = 1metre
Velocity of the rod y = 0.6 c
) Let L be the length as observed by the observer on the earth.
We have L
=0.8 metre
() For an observer moving with the rod, the length of the rod is l metre.
102. How fast would a rocket have to go relative to an observer for its length
to be contracted to 99% of its length at rest.
Solution : According to the question L=0.99L, [ L,=length at rest)
Suppose the required velocity =y
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or
-e-ea-o")
v=0.1416c= 0.1416x(3x10')= 4.245x 10 m
10.3. Show that L' is the rest volume of a cube, then L, is the volume
viewed from a reference frame moving with uniform velocity v parallel to an
edge of the cube.
Solution:Let the system S' is moving with uniform velocity vrelative to Sin the positive
X-axis direction. The volume of the cube in the system s is L where length of
cach edge of the cube = L,:
Nowlet one edge of the cube is along the x-axis, then its length along X-axis as
observed by an observer in s' is given by
Since the length along Y-axis and Z-axis remain unchanged, therefore the volume of
the cube as observed from s'is
10.4. Two twins are 25 years old when one of them sets out on a journey through
a spaceship at nearly constant speed. The twin in the spaceship measures
time with an accurate watch. When he turns back to earth, he claims to be
31 years old while the twin left of the earth is them 43 years old. What was
the speed of the spaceship?
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Mechanics
Solution:
Here Al, =6 years and A=18 ycars
Now, or
or
6
0.333
l-0.11l = 0.889
18
or -=0.943
C
v=0.943c =0.943x3×10° =2.82 x10* m
10.5. A particle with a proper life time of lus moves through the laboratory at
the speed of 2.7x10 m,.
) What is its life time as measured by observers in the aboratory?
(ü) What will be the distance traversed by it before disintegration?
Solution :
Here I=lus =10s
v= 2.7x10
) Now the time tat measured by the observers at the laboratory is given b÷
l0-6
= 2.3x10seconds
(2.7×10')
(3x10}
(i) Thedistance traversed before disintegration = v = 2.7x10 x2.3x|0
620 metre
10.6. Prove that E- p'e =m,'e" is invariant under Lorentz transtormation.
A
Text Book on Mechanics 385
Solution :
The right hand side of the given relation i.e. m,'c is a constant since rest mass m,
and velocity of light c is constant.
Now we are to prove that E'" -p'c = E'-p'c'
where E and p' are the energy and momentum in a frame S' which is moving
with uniforn velocity vrelative to another frame Swhere the energy and momentum
are E and P
Now, Lorentz transformation equations for energy and momentum are
Ev
E-pv p
E'= and p'=
)2
2Epv
E+p'y' -2Epv- p' +:
So E'-pc?
|
Ey
E'+p'y' -2Epv-p'e + 2Epv
Or E--p''e'= F-p'e?
Which shows that E'-p'e is invariant under Lorentz transformation.
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momentum Pand kinetic energy
10.7. Prove that if . between the
<<1 the relation
C expression
relativistic expression is reduced to the classical
A as given by the
p=2m,k.
Solution :
We know that
E=k+m,c
(1)
and E' = p'e+m'c (2)
So from equations (1) and (2) we get
(k+ m,e)'=p'c +mc
or k+ 2m,c»k+ me=pYe' +m
Or k+2m,ek= p'e
2k
or [Dividing by m,'c]
m m,c? m
k 2k p'
m,c* m,c m,
When <<1, k<< mc and therefore the first term in the above relation is negligible
C
in comparison with the second term.
2k
Hence
m,c m,'c
or Or
p=2m,k
2m,
at low
10.8. Staring from the relativistic expression for kinetic energy show that
velocity its value reduces to the ordinary kinetie energy formula.
Solution :
We have the kinetic energy
=(m-m)e
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mo
1
k = m,c 1 --1 (1)
3
Now =1+
2c8
=1+ V<<C, other terms are negligible.
2 c²
Hence substituting in equation (1) we get
k= m,e 1+:2 c2--1
1
or k=-mv
2
(2)
This equation (2) is the expression for kineticenergy according to classical physics.
10.9. The rest mass of an electron is 9x1031 kg. What will be its mass if it were
moving with th the speed of light?
Solution:
If a body with rest mass m, is moving with velocity y, its mass is given by
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()
4
Given that
C
So -=0.6
9x10-31
Hence from (i) we get m= -=15x10 kg
0.6
10.10. The mass of a moving particle becomes three times the value of its rest
mass. Calculate the speed of the particle.
Solution :
We have the expression m=
But here m=3m
mo
1
Or 3= 9=
or
9
8
or
9
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8
Or
8
Fc=0.94c
V9
C
moves with speed Calculate its mass,
10.11. A particle of rest mass m,
momentum, total energy and kinetic energy.
Solution:
We have the relativistic mass of the particle
m=
V=
Of m=V2m, =1.41 m,
C
Momentum p= mV = =/2m,x=m,e
Total energy E= me=1.41 m,c
Again the kinetic energy
k =Total energy rest mass energy
=1.41 m,c'-m,e
=0.41mc
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Exercises
1. Give the correct answer.
) The postulates of special theory of relativity are applicable to
(a) stationary frame (b) accelerated frame
(c) inertial frames (d) none of these
Ans : (c)
(1) Frame s' moves along the positive X-direction with reference to frames.A rod
placed along Y' -axis in S' if observed from S frame appears
(a) contracted (b) elongated
(c) unchanged (d) none of the above
Ans : (c)
(m) The length of a rod moving with a velocity v relative to the observer at rest is contracted
by a factor
(a) (b) (c) (d)
Ans : (a)
(iv) The relativisticmass of a particle is
(a) m = Mo mo
(b) m=: (c) m= (d) m=
Ans : (b)
(v) Mass-energy equivalence relation is
(a) E-(m-m, )e' (b) E=me²
(c) E= (d) E=m,e
Ans : (b)
(vi) The rest mass of a photon is
hu hu h
(a) (b) (c) (d) zero
c2
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Ans : (d)
2 What is meant by frame of reference? Define inertial and non-inertial frames.
3. State the postulates of special theory of relativity.
4. What is meant by length contraction?
5. Explain the relativistic time dilation.
6. What is proper length?
7. What is twin paradox?
8. Discuss simultaneity of events in two inertial frames of reference.
9 What is the principle of equivalence of mass and energy?
10. What is relativistic Doppler effect?
11. Describe Michelson-Morley experiment with the help of neat diagram and discuss
its negative results.
12. Derive Lorentz transformation equations.
13. Using Lorentz transformation equations, obtain the law of addition of velocities.
14. Show on the basis of relativistic addition theorem of velocities that the velocity of
light isan absolute constant, independent of the frame of reference and that it is
the
maximum velocity attainable in nature.
mechanics.
15. Derive an expression for variation of mass according to relativistic
somne evidence
16. Deduce Einstein's mass-energy relation E = mnc and discuss it. Give
showing its validity.
17. Derive the relativistic expression for kinetic energy.
Show that for small speeds it reduces to the classical form.
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