Physics: RELATIVITY Topical Past Paper Questions

Muons are formed in the Earth’s atmosphere 2.5km above the surface and then travel vertically downwards at a speed of 0.975c. The mean lifetime of a muon is $ 2.2\,\mu\mathrm{s} $ when measured in a frame in which the muon is at rest. (a) Calculate the mean lifetime of the muon f…

The spacetime diagram is in the reference frame of an observer O on Earth. Observer O and spaceship A are at the origin of the spacetime diagram when time $ t = t' = 0 $. The worldline for spaceship A is shown. (a) (i) Calculate in terms of c the velocity of spaceship A relative…

A train is moving across a bridge with a speed $ v = 0.40c $. Observer A is at rest in the train. Observer B is at rest with respect to the bridge. The length of the bridge $ L_{B} $ according to observer B is 2.0 km. (a) Calculate, for observer A, (i) the length $ L_{A} $ of the…