HW #8
Due with your lab report for Lab 9: The Principle of Equivalence which is due by 5PM
Friday December 2. (Email submission to your TA is allowed for this homework and lab
report.)
For each problem, include a couple of sentences to briefly describe what you are doing,
even if your answer is mathematical. This will help us understand your work and
allocate partial credit.
You can use a calculator, but please show your work.
1. Lorentz Contraction: consider a stationary observer on Earth, viewing a rocket that
is traveling at constant velocity v. On the rocket there is a 2m tall astronaut (as
measured by the astronaut in her own reference frame). What is the height of the
astronaut, as measured by the stationary observer, in the following situations:
a) the astronaut lies down so that her height is measured parallel to the direction of
rocket motion, and v = 0.5 x c.
b) the astronaut lies down so that her height is measured parallel to the direction of
rocket motion, and v = 0.99 x c.
c) the astronaut stands up so that her height is measured perpendicular to the
direction of rocket motion, and v = 0.99 x c.
2. Relativistic Energy:
What is the relativistic energy, measured in Joules, of a 1kg ball traveling at the
following velocities:
a) v = 0 (at rest)
b) v = 0.5 x c
c) v = 0.99 x c

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