Concept explainers
The light from a heated atomic gas is shifted in frequency because of the random thermal motion of light-emitting atoms toward or away from an observer. Estimate the fractional Doppler shift
Must we use the relativistic Doppler shift formulas
for this calculation? Such thermal Doppler shifts are measurable and are used to determine stellar surface temperatures.
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Chapter 10 Solutions
Modern Physics
- An observer in a coasting spacecraft moves toward a mirror at speed v relative to the reference frame labeled S in Figure P39.85. The mirror is stationary with respect to S. A light pulse emitted by the spacecraft travels toward the mirror and is reflected back to the spacecraft. The spacecraft is a distance d from the mirror (as measured by observers in S) at the moment the light pulse leaves the spacecraft. What is the total travel time of the pulse as measured by observers in (a) the S frame and (b) the spacecraft?arrow_forwardA spacecraft is launched from the surface of the Earth with a velocity of 0.600c at an angle of 50.0° above the horizontal, positive x-axis. Another spacecraft is moving past with a velocity of 0.700c in the negative x direction. Determine the magnitude and direction of the velocity of the first spacecraft as measured by the pilot of the second spacecraft.arrow_forward(a) All but the closest galaxies are receding from our own Milky Way Galaxy. If a galaxy 12.0x109ly away is receding from us at 0.900c, at what velocity relative to us must we send an exploratory probe to approach the other galaxy at 0.990c as measured from that galaxy? (b) How long will it take the probe to reach the other galaxy as measured from Earth? You may assume that the velocity of the other galaxy remains constant. (c) How long will it then take for a radio signal to be beamed back? (All of this is possible in principle, but not practical.)arrow_forward
- Suppose the primed and laboratory observers want to measure the length of a rod that rests on the ground horizontally in the space between the helicopter and the tower (Fig. 39.8B). To derive the length transformation L = L (Eq. 39.5), we had to assume that the positions of the two ends were determined simultaneously. What happens to the length transformation equation if both observers measure the end below the helicopter at one time t1 and the other end at a later time t2?arrow_forwardA spacecraft moves at a speed of 0.900c. If its length is L as measured by an observer on the spacecraft, what is the length measured by a ground observer?arrow_forwardAn observer in frame S sees lightning simultaneously strike two points 100 m apart. The first strike occurs at x1 = y1 = z1 = t1 = 0 and the second at x2 = 100 m, y2 = z2 = t2 = 0. (a) What are the coordinates of these two events in a frame S moving in the standard configuration at 0.70c relative to S? (b) How far apart are the events in S? (c) Are the events simultaneous in S? If not, what is the difference in time between the events, and which event occurs first?arrow_forward
- Joe and Moe are twins. In the laboratory frame at location S1 (2.00 km, 0.200 km, 0.150 km). Joe shoots a picture for aduration of t= 12.0 s. For the same duration as measured inthe laboratory frame, at location S2 (1.00 km, 0.200 km,0.300 km), Moe also shoots a picture. Both Joe and Moe begintaking their pictures at t = 0 in the laboratory frame. Determine the duration of each event as measured by an observer ina frame moving at a speed of 2.00 108 m/s along the x axisin the positive x direction. Assume that at t = t = 0, the origins of the two frames coincide.arrow_forwardConsider an electron moving with speed 0.980c. a. What is the rest mass energy of this electron? b. What is the total energyof this electron? c. What is the kinetic energy of this electron?arrow_forward(a) Find the value of for the following situation. An astronaut measures the length of his spaceship to be 100 m, while an observer measures it to be 25.0 m. (b) What is the of the spaceship relative to Earth?arrow_forward
- An atomic clock is placed in a jet airplane. The clock measures a time interval of 3600 s when the jet moves with a speed of 400 m/s. How much longer or shorter a time interval does an identical clock held by an observer on the ground measure? (Hint: For , γ ≈ 1 + v2/2c2.)arrow_forwardAs seen from Earth, two spaceships A and B are approaching along perpendicular directions. If A is observed by an Earth observer to have velocity uy = 0.90c and B to have a velocity ux = +0.90c, find the speed of ship A as measured by the pilot of B.arrow_forward
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