Special Relativity

Question 1

gallileos principle

Answer 1

you cannot know if you are moving without looking outside your FOR

Question 2

postulates

Answer 2

• all laws of physics are the same in all inertial FOR’s
• speed of light is same in all FOR’s

Question 3

simultaenity

Answer 3

two events occurring at the same time
- events measured in one FOR may not be the same in another FOR

Question 4

explain the twins paradox

Answer 4

• the clock for twin in space is moving slower -> time dilation
• earth twin is always in inertial FOR / space twin accelerates and decelerates so FOR cannot be exactly compared
• it is a paradox bc each twin will view the other one as younger
• but we know the space twin will be younger

Question 5

muon decay

Answer 5

• generally muons would decay before reaching earth
• due to high speeds, time slows down
• from earth FOR, their lifetime is longer
• able to reach earth

Question 6

explain ladder barn paradox

Answer 6

• observer who is at rest with respect to barn will see length contraction due to high speed
• rest person sees entire ladder fit inside barn
• moving person sees barn as shorter
• both are correct in their own FOR

Question 7

how to solve ladder barn

Answer 7

• simultaneity
• moving FOR doors open and close same time
• rest FOR doors do not do that
• ladder does not make contact with doors