funky question (1 Viewer)

[kwabon]

having trouble with those time, length, and mass dilation equations.

i am having trouble trying to differentiate between t/m/l (v) and t/m/l (o) in those equations.

could someone please explain it to me using this example,

2008 HSC (multiple choice)
a spaceship is travelling away from Earth at 1.8*10^8 m/s. the time interval between consecutive ticks of a clock on board the spaceship is 0.5s. each time the clock ticks, a radio pulse is transmitted back to earth
what is the time interval between consecutive radio pulses?

thanks guys

 

[annabackwards]

I really suck at explaining but i'll try.

Basically you're given the time interval between the consecutive ticks of the clock, with respect to the ships themselves. So it's the interval when the ships are "stationary" or at rest. Therefore To = 0.5s

So you need to find Tv by just subbing it into the equation and solving

Tv > To because of time dilation

If you can't remember whether Tv or To is the rest mass, just work out whether the time should be longer or shorter and sub it in both ways and just pick which one should be right XD

 

[kaz1]

t_o= 0.5
v=1.8x10⁸ m/s

pretty sure you can do it now
O is the length/ time/mass in the rest frame of reference so in other words how it should be if it wasn't moving super fast.

 

[the-derivative]

What I do is I try and predict the answer in my head first, by using my own thought experiments

Like I think to myself - moving clocks run slower, or moving objects contract, or moving objects become heavier, then I try and manipulate my answer - may seem weird but it works for me

 

[kwabon]

legendary thanks guys.

baah, must spread before giving to derivative and anna.