Physics 2D - SS2 2012 Midterm #1

Tuesday, August 14th 3:30pm to 4:50pm

[Note: this is a closed-book exam. No additional notes or calculator are allowed. The total score of this exam is 80 points. Points assigned to each problems is thus a guide to how many minutes you should spend working on it.] Possibly useful formulae:

Binominal expansion: (1 x)n 1 nx + Lorentz Transformation: u x c2 x = (x ut) y =y z =z t = t where = 1/ 1 u2 /c2 . n(n 1) 2 x + 2 for x 1 (1)

(2)

Relativistic energy: E= Relativistic momentum: p= Energy-Momentum relation: E 2 = p2 c2 + m2 c4 (5) mc2 1 mv 1

v2 c2 v2 c2

(3)

(4)

1. Short Answers: 3 sentences maximum per question! (a) State which aspect of classical physics Maxwells equations are not compatible with? [8 points] (b) What do the Lorentz transformations describe? State the key postulates used in its derivation, and write them down in mathematical terms. [8 points] (c) Explain how Newtons second law, F = ma, is incompatible with the Lorentz transformation. Describe qualitatively what would happen to a particle of nite mass m subjected to a constant force. [8 points] (d) A space traveler reported that he reached a distant start 1000 light years away from the earth within his life span of 100 years. Is this in violation of the statement that nothing in a causal universe can travel faster than the speed of light? Explain. [8 points]

2. Simple Derivations: (a) Starting from the relativistic expressions for the energy (3) and momentum (4) of a particle given on the cover page, what can you say about the speed of a massless particle if you know it has nite energy? Using this results, derive a simple relation between the energy and momentum of this particle. [8 points] (b) Write down an expression for the kinetic energy K of a particle of rest mass m and speed v valid for all v < c. In the limit v c, show that the expression reduces to 1 2 the classical form, K = 2 mv . [8 points] (c) Starting with the Lorentz transformation (2) given on the cover page, derive the relativistic velocity addition formula relating the speed of a particle, vx in frame S and vx in frame S , where frame S is moving with speed u in the x direction with respect to frame S. What does the formula simplify to in the limit that u is much smaller than the speed of light c? [16 points]

3. Particle Decay: A particle of type A with mass M , initially at rest in the lab frame, decays into two particles of type B each of mass m. Note: M > 2m. Find the energy of a B particle in the lab frame in terms of M . Find the magnitude of the momentum of a B particle in the lab frame in terms of M and m. In what direction are the B particles moving relative to each other? [16 points]