Bauer/Westfall: University Physics, 2E

Chapter 35: Relativity

Bauer's Mod-Phy 2e
Concept Checks
35.1. c, d, e 35.2. a, c, d, e 35.3. e 35.4. a) True b) False c) True 35.5. a 35.6. b and c 35.7. b, c, d 35.8. a 35.9. d

Multiple-Choice Questions
35.1. a 35.2. d 35.3. c 35.4. d 35.5. a 35.6. d 35.7. c 35.8. c 35.9. a 35.10. c 35.11. c 35.12. b 35.13. d 35.14. d

Conceptual Questions
35.15. A direct corollary of Einstein’s special theory of relativity postulates that no entity or interaction in the
universe can propagate with a speed greater than the speed of light in vacuum. Therefore, instantaneous
effects of events at one point in space on another point in space are impossible. The translational motion
of a perfectly rigid object would imply that, by moving one end of the object, the other end of the object
would also move instantaneously, without any time delay. This contradicts Einstein’s theory.

35.16. The y-axis is the time given in μs and the x-axis is the ‘distance’ ( x / c ) given in units of μs also, since the
speed of light can be written c =3.00 ⋅ 108 m/s = 3.00 ⋅ 10 0.300=
μs2 m/ km/μs. To hit the target, the world
line from t = −μs13 of the person (Eddie and/or Martin) must lie inside the past light cone of the target
at x = 0 and t = 0. As seen in the diagram, Eddie’s world line is inside the past light cone of the target
from t = −μs13 to t = −2 km / 0.3 km/
μs = − / 3 μs and so Eddie could hit the target. However, Martin’s
20
world line lies outside of the light cone for all time after t = −μs
13 and so he could not have hit the target.
Eddie and Martin find out the target has been hit at the point where their individual world lines intersect
the light cone from the target at the origin at some time after the target is hit at t = 0. As shown in the
diagram, Eddie finds out the target has been hit at t = 20 / 3μs and Martin finds out it has been hit at
t=
−5 km / 0.3 km/
μs =
− / 3 μs.
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