43 Lecture
PHY101
Midterm & Final Term Short Notes
Special Relativity – II
Special relativity is a branch of physics that describes the behavior of objects in motion at high speeds, approaching the speed of light.
Important Mcq's
Midterm & Finalterm Prepration
Past papers included
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What is the rest mass of a particle moving at a speed of 0.6c if its relativistic mass is 2.5 times its rest mass?
A) 1.8 m0
B) 1.4 m0
C) 2.0 m0
D) 2.5 m0
Answer: B) 1.4 m0
According to special relativity, what happens to time and length measurements as the speed of an object approaches the speed of light?
A) Time slows down and length contracts
B) Time speeds up and length expands
C) Time slows down and length expands
D) Time speeds up and length contracts
Answer: A) Time slows down and length contracts
What is the maximum speed limit in the universe according to special relativity?
A) The speed of sound
B) The speed of light
C) The speed of gravity
D) The speed of time
Answer: B) The speed of light
What is the formula for time dilation in special relativity?
A) t' = t / ?(1 - v^2/c^2)
B) t' = t x ?(1 - v^2/c^2)
C) t' = t / (1 - v^2/c^2)
D) t' = t x (1 - v^2/c^2)
Answer: A) t' = t / ?(1 - v^2/c^2)
What is the name given to the phenomenon in which an object appears to be shorter when it is moving at a high speed relative to an observer?
A) Time dilation
B) Length contraction
C) Relativistic acceleration
D) Mass increase
Answer: B) Length contraction
What is the formula for the relativistic mass of a particle in motion?
A) m = m0 / ?(1 - v^2/c^2)
B) m = m0 x ?(1 - v^2/c^2)
C) m = m0 / (1 - v^2/c^2)
D) m = m0 x (1 - v^2/c^2)
Answer: B) m = m0 x ?(1 - v^2/c^2)
According to special relativity, what is the relationship between energy and mass?
A) They are independent of each other
B) Energy and mass are equivalent and can be converted into each other
C) Energy can create mass but mass cannot create energy
D) Mass can create energy but energy cannot create mass
Answer: B) Energy and mass are equivalent and can be converted into each other
What is the name given to the time dilation effect experienced by an object in motion due to gravity?
A) Gravitational time dilation
B) Relativistic time dilation
C) Gravitational lensing
D) Frame dragging
Answer: A) Gravitational time dilation
According to special relativity, what is the formula for relativistic momentum?
A) p = mv
B) p = m0v
C) p = m0v / ?(1 - v^2/c^2)
D) p = m0v x ?(1 - v^2/c^2)
Answer: D) p = m0v x ?(1 - v^2/c^2)
What is the name given to the phenomenon in which an object moving at a high speed experiences a decrease in its apparent mass?
A) Time dilation
B) Length contraction
C) Mass increase
D
Subjective Short Notes
Midterm & Finalterm Prepration
Past papers included
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What is the postulate of special relativity?
Answer: The postulate of special relativity states that the laws of physics are the same for all observers in uniform motion relative to each other.
What is time dilation?
Answer: Time dilation is a phenomenon where time appears to run slower for an object in motion relative to an observer, as compared to an object at rest.
What is length contraction?
Answer: Length contraction is a phenomenon where the length of an object in motion appears shorter to an observer as compared to an object at rest.
What is the twin paradox in special relativity?
Answer: The twin paradox refers to a situation where one twin travels to a distant star at near-light speeds while the other twin remains on Earth. The traveling twin experiences time dilation and returns to Earth younger than the twin who stayed on Earth.
What is the mass-energy equivalence?
Answer: The mass-energy equivalence, expressed by Einstein's famous equation E=mc², states that mass and energy are interchangeable and are two forms of the same thing.
What is the Lorentz transformation?
Answer: The Lorentz transformation is a set of equations that describe how space and time coordinates of events appear to observers in relative motion with respect to each other.
What is the concept of simultaneity in special relativity?
Answer: Simultaneity is relative in special relativity, meaning that two events that appear simultaneous to one observer may not appear simultaneous to another observer in relative motion.
What is the meaning of the term "relativistic" in special relativity?
Answer: The term "relativistic" refers to the fact that the laws of physics in special relativity are relative to the observer's motion, rather than being absolute.
How does special relativity explain the constancy of the speed of light?
Answer: Special relativity explains the constancy of the speed of light by postulating that the speed of light is the same for all observers in uniform motion relative to each other, regardless of the motion of the light source or the observer.
What is the role of the Lorentz factor in special relativity?
Answer: The Lorentz factor, represented by the symbol ?, appears in many equations of special relativity and accounts for time dilation, length contraction, and the mass-energy equivalence. It is a measure of how "relativistic" an object's motion is, and approaches infinity as the object approaches the speed of light.