Special relativity written questions
Practise H3 Physics Lorentz transformations, relativistic effects and energy–momentum questions, with worked solutions for review.
Learning goals
- Discuss the result of the Michelson–Morley experiment and what it means for the ether theory
- State the two postulates of special relativity: the laws of physics and the speed of light in free space are the same in every inertial frame
- Explain why the Galilean transformation fails for a moving light source
- Discuss the relativity of simultaneity
- Explain proper time and proper length
- Use the Lorentz transformation to solve one-dimensional problems
- Derive the time dilation formula and the length contraction formula, making use of the Lorentz factor.
- Use time dilation and length contraction, for example for the lifetime of fast-moving muons
- Use relativistic velocity addition to find velocities in different inertial frames
- Apply the relativistic energy–momentum relation E² = (pc)² + (mc²)² to solve problems, including selecting its limiting form.
- Show that E² = (pc)² + (mc²)² reduces to E = pc for massless particles and to E = mc² + ½mv² at low speeds.
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