Try the fastest way to create flashcards
Question

In the preceding exercise, if the stick is moving in a direction along its length (like a properly thrown spear), how long will you measure its length to be?

Solutions

Verified
Answered 10 months ago
Step 1
1 of 2

In the problem it is assumed that the stick has p=2p0p = 2 p_{0} where we have denoted classical momentum p0=mvp_{0} = mv. The relativistic momentum is given by

p=γmvp = \gamma mv

so we can conclude that γ=2\gamma = 2. The length contraction is given by the formula

L=L0γL = \frac{L_{0}}{\gamma}

and we are given that the length of the stick was L0=1mL_{0} = 1m. Thus we conclude that we would measure the stick to be

L=0.5mL = 0.5m

Create a free account to view solutions

Create a free account to view solutions

Recommended textbook solutions

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics 4th Edition by Randall D. Knight

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics

4th EditionISBN: 9780133942651 (8 more)Randall D. Knight
3,508 solutions
Conceptual Physics 12th Edition by Paul G. Hewitt

Conceptual Physics

12th EditionISBN: 9780321909107 (1 more)Paul G. Hewitt
3,486 solutions
Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences 3rd Edition by Mary L. Boas

Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences

3rd EditionISBN: 9780471198260 (1 more)Mary L. Boas
3,355 solutions
Fundamentals of Physics 10th Edition by David Halliday, Jearl Walker, Robert Resnick

Fundamentals of Physics

10th EditionISBN: 9781118230718 (3 more)David Halliday, Jearl Walker, Robert Resnick
8,971 solutions

More related questions

1/4

1/7