#10. A spaceship is heading directly toward Earth at a velocity of 0.78c. Consid
ID: 2304497 • Letter: #
Question
#10. A spaceship is heading directly toward Earth at a velocity of 0.78c. Consider and compare the predictions of Galilean relativity and special relativity. If the astronaut launches a canister toward the Earth at 0.5c relative to the spaceship, according to Galilean relativity how fast will the canister move toward the Earth, according to an earthbound observer? The canister will move at a. c toward the Earth, according to Galilean relativit If the astronaut launches a canister toward the Earth at 0.5c relative to the spaceship, according to special relativity how fast will the canister move toward the Earth, according to an earthbound observer? The canister will move at b. c toward the Earth, according to special relativity. In absence of experimental evidence, both results above might sound equally plausible (you just used two different formulas). However, according to both theory and experiment, laws of nature need to work out in a way that an object moving at 1.0c moves at 1.0c in all reference frames (second postulate of special relativity). Consider two different predictions of Galilean relativity and special relativity below If the astronaut launches a massless particle toward the Earth at 1.0c relative to the spaceship, according to Galilean relativity how fast will the particle move toward the Earth, according to an earthbound observer? The particle will move at cc toward the Earth, according to Galilean relativit c. d. If the astronaut launches a massless particle toward the Earth at 1.0c relative to the spaceship, according to special relativity how fast will the particle move toward the Earth, according to an earthbound observer? The particle will move at cc toward the Earth, according to special relativityExplanation / Answer
a. According to Gallilian Relativity, Speed of canister wrt Earth will just be Sum of the two i.e 0.78c+0.5c = 1.28c.
b. But according to STR, speed of a Particle cannot exceed 1c.
According to Einstein velocity addition formula.
Vcan,Earth = (0.78+0.5)c/1+((0.78×0.5)c2/c2) =1.28c/1.39 = 0.921c
C.
According to observer at earth, speed of massless particle will be 1.78c
D.
But according to first postulate of Relativity, speed of light is same on all reference frames. Wrt observer at earth, speed of massless particle will be 1c only.
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.