PHYSICS 2: HSC COURSE 2nd edition (Andriessen et al)

Chapter 5: Space and time (pages 89-91)

WORKED SOLUTIONS
12.
Star
Canopus
Rigel
Arcturus
Hadar

Distance (light years)

75
900
32.6
326

Distance (parsecs)
23
276
10
100

Canopus:
distance (light years) = 23 3.2616 75
distance (km) = 23 30.857 1012 = 7.1 1014
Rigel:
distance (parsecs) = 900 0.3066 = 276
distance (km) = 900 9.4605 1012 = 8.5 1015
Arcturus:
distance (light years) = 10 3.2616 = 32.6
distance (km) = 10 30.857 1012 = 3.1 1014
Hadar:
distance (light years) =

3.0857 1015
= 326
9.4605 1012

3.0857 1015
distance (parsecs) =
= 100
30.857 1012

Space Chapter 5

Distance (km)
7.1 1014
8.5 1015
3.1 1014
3.0857 1015

15.
(a)
Lv = Lo 1

v2
c2

80 = 120 1

v2
c2

v = 0.745c

(b)

Lv = Lo 1

v2
c2

Lv = 80 1 0.745 2
= 53.4 m
Pete thinks Oh, no! The plane wont fit!.

(c) This apparent conflict arises from the relativity of simultaneity. The nose of the plane
touching the end wall of the hangar is event A. The door closing behind the plane is event
B. Jock, standing on the ground judges event B to occur before event A, while Pete, in
the plane, judges event A to occur first.

16.
v = 3660 km h-1 = 3.39 10-6c

observed diameter = 3480 1 (3.39 10 6 ) 2

= 3479.99999998 km

17.

tv =

to
1 (v c ) 2

16 s =

2.2 s
1 (v c ) 2

v = 0.99c

Space Chapter 5

18.
As seen from the Earth,
Lo = 130 000 light years, and

As seen by the travellers,

Lv = Lo

v2
1 2
c

= 130000 1

v=

v=

v2
light years
c2

distance Lv
time taken
v2
light years
c2
45 years

130 000 1

Solving for v gives

v = 0.99999994c

19.
Distance (l.y.)

Contracted
Time taken
distance (l.y.) (=contracted d/v)

(a) Pluto

6.18 10-4

2.76 10-5

(b) Proxima
Centauri
(c) Sirius

4.224

0.189

8.643

0.386

(d) Alpha Crucis

(e) Andromeda

522
2.25 106

23.3
100 600

Space Chapter 5

2.77 10-5 yr
= 14.5 min
0.189 yr
= 69 days
0.3868 yr
=141 days
23.4 yr
100 700 yr

(a) Pluto:

distance = 39.1 AU = 39.1 1.5813 10 5 = 6.18 10 4 lightyear

contracted distance LV = 6.18 10 -4 1 (0.999) 2 = 2.76 10 15 lightyear
time taken =

2.76 10 -15
= 2.77 10 5 yr 14.5 min
0.999

(b) Proxima Centauri:

distance = 1.295 pc = 1.295 3.2616 = 4.224 lightyear

contracted distance = 4.224 1 (0.999) 2 = 0.189 lightyear
time taken =

0.189
= 0.189 yr 69 days
0.999

(c) Sirius:

8.177 1013
= 8.643 lightyear
distance = 8.177 10 km =
9.4605 1012
13

contracted distance = 8.643 1 (0.999) 2 = 0.386 lightyear

time taken =

0.386
= 0.387 yr 141 days
0.999

(d) Alpha Crucis:

distance = 522 lightyears

contracted distance = 522 1 (0.999) 2 = 23.3 lightyears
time taken =

23.3
= 23.4 yr
0.999

Space Chapter 5

(e) Andromeda:
distance = 690 10 3 pc = 690 10 3 3.2616 pc/ly = 2.25 10 6 lightyear
contracted distance = 2.25 10 6 1 (0.999) 2 100 600 lightyear
time taken =

100 600
100 700 yr
0.999

20.
(a)
v2
c2

Lv = Lo 1
Lv
v2
= 1 2
Lo
c
1
v2
= 1 2
2
c
v = 0.866c

(b) 1 x 105 kg <working to come>

(c)
tv =
tv =

to
1 (v c ) 2
1
1 0.866 2
=2s

21.
(a)

Lv = Lo 1

v2
c2

= 30 1 0.3 2
= 28.6 m

Space Chapter 5

(b)
tv =
tv =

to
1 ( v c) 2
10
1 0. 3 2
= 10.483 h

difference = 10.483 - 10
= 0.483 h = 28 min 59 s

(c) 3.14 x 105 kg <working to come>

25.
(a)
E = mc 2
= (1.673 10 27 )(3 10 8 ) 2
= 1.506 10 10 J

(b)
E = mc 2
= (6.6465 10 27 )(3 10 8 ) 2
= 5.9819 10 10 J

(c)
E = mc 2
= (1.9932 10 26 )(3 10 8 ) 2
= 1.7939 10 9 J

(d)
E = mc 2
= (5 10 6 kg)(3 10 8 ) 2
= 4.5 1011 J

(e)
E = mc 2
= (1)(3 10 8 ) 2
= 9 1016 J

Space Chapter 5