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Modern Physics
Modern Physics
ht into its full The binding energy per nucleon is least for nuclei of intermediate
Three ways in which light can travel from a source to spectrum of wavelengths. size: Nuclear fission and fusion reactions give off energy because
Reviewer in Modern Physics C: A spaceship approaches the Moon, traveling at 0.5c with respect to
another location:
Einstein’s First Postulate: The first postulate upon which Einstein the Moon. Its crew shines a laser at the Moon. The beam strikes a lunar
- come directly from the source through empty space; mirror and is reflected back to the ship. The crew on the ship will
based the theory of special relativity relates to inertial reference frames.
- light can travel through various media; measure the speed of the reflected beam to be
Inertial frame of reference: is a reference frame in which a body at
- light can also arrive after being reflected, such as by a rest remains at rest and a body in motion moves at a constant speed in a Acceleration and velocity both change: In a uniform circular motion
mirror. straight line unless acted on by an outside force. C: A spaceship, moving away from the Earth at a speed of 0.9c, fires a
Ray: comes from mathematics and here means a straight line Einstein’s Second Postulate: The second postulate upon which light beam backward. An observer on Earth would see the light arriving
Einstein based his theory of special relativity deals with the speed of at a speed of
that originates at some point.
light. Just the same: According to the special theory of relativity, what will
Geometric Optics: Part of optics, where the ray aspect of light you notice about your own pulse rate if you travel at a very high speed?
Michelson-Morley experiment: demonstrated that the speed of light in
dominates. 0.60 c: A train has a rest length of 100 m. Traveling at a very high
a vacuum is independent of the motion of the Earth about the Sun.
The Law of Reflection: The angle of reflection equals the angle Time dilation: is the phenomenon of time passing slower for an velocity, it goes through a tunnel of length 80 m.
of incidence. observer who is moving relative to another observer. Simple Harmonic Motion: The equation, x = a cos (ωt + f) represents
Refraction: The changing of a light ray’s direction (loosely called Proper time: is the time measured by an observer at rest relative to the Time and space are two closely-related concepts that are dependent
event being observed. on each other: Which of the following statements is consistent with
bending) when it passes through variations in matter is called
Proper length: is the distance between two points measured by an the general theory of relativity?
refraction. When it interacts with matter: When does light behave as if it were a
observer who is at rest relative to both of the points.
Length contraction: is the shortening of the measured length of an wave phenomenon?
object moving relative to the observer’s frame. Is converted to Energy: When two light atoms fuse together, mass
may or may not be seen at the same time: Two meteorites are seen to It will be shorter: While the spaceship is still at rest on earth, a woman
strike two distant locations at the same time. As seen from a different on board finds that a wooden rod she is carrying is 1 meter long.
location, the two lightning bolts. Remains the same: If you consider a blinking light source that is
the same for all nuclei: The binding energy per nucleon is receding an observer, what happens to its speed?
The length of the rod remains the same: The length of a rod seems Momentum: There is an upper limit on the speed of a particle. This
shorter to an observer when it moves in a specific direction. What means that there is also an upper limit on its
change would he observe when the direction of rod changes by 180°? Iron: The element whose nuclei contain the most tightly bound nucleon
Smaller: Relative to the sum of the masses of its constituents, the mass is
of nucleus is Zero: The decay of a sample of radioactive atoms is studied by
c but at a shorter wavelength: A spaceship, moving toward the Earth observers moving in different ways. One moves at 0.8c, another at 0.5c,
at a speed of 0.9c, shines a green laser at Earth. An observer on Earth another at 0.25c, and one at speed zero with respect to the sample.
would see the light arriving at a speed of Observed when speeds are near the speed of light: The term
remains the same: If you consider a blinking light source that "relativistic" refers to effects that are
approaches an observer, what happens to its speed? Decreases: If you consider a blinking light source that is receding an
Increases: If you consider a blinking light source that approaches an observer, what happens to its frequency?
observer, what happens to its frequency? The same: How does the relativistic momentum of a fast-moving body
Everyday Low Speeds: Under what conditions do relativity equations compare to the momentum (mv) of the same body according to
for length, mass, and time hold true? classical physics?
Increases: If you consider a blinking light source that approaches an Move at a constant speed: According to the special theory of
observer, what happens to its wavelength? relativity, all laws of nature are the same in reference frames that:
TIR: The incident angle θ1 is greater than the critical angle. 6,000 m: Starship "Alpha" is traveling at 0.8c (γ = 5/3) with respect to
The clock at the top: Which clock ticks faster, the clock at the bottom
of a skyscraper or another clock at the top? the identical starship "Beta." Each starship has rest length 10,000 m.