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Unit 18. Relativity Questions with solutions
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Exam of 1 pages for the course Relativity at Relativity (Unit 18. Relativity)
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Unit 18. RelativityWhat is an inertial frame of reference? - answerA frame of reference that is not
accelerating.
Explain why Galilean relativity does not work when applied to light emitted from a
moving source. - answerLight moves at the same speed for all observers regardless of
the source.
What are the two postulates of special relativity? - answerLight moves at the same
speed for all observers regardless of the source. The laws of physics are the same in all
inertial frames of reference.
It is said that Einstein, in his teenage years, asked the question, "What would I see in a
mirror if I carried it in my hands and ran at the speed of light?" How would you answer
that question? - answerHe would see his reflection as normal. Since light moves at the
same speed for all observers, it does not matter if he is at rest or moving.
There are objects in the universe that are moving away from Earth at speeds of nearly
half the speed of light called quasars. What is the speed of the light that we receive from
these quasars? Explain. - answerLight moves at the speed of light for all observers.
Explain the apparatus of the Michelson-Morley experiment. - answerLight moves to the
right and strikes the mirror. Some passes through and some is reflected upward. Both
beams are then reflected back to the mirror. The upper beam passes through while the
beam coming from the right is reflected down.
b. How would the observer of the Michelson-Morley experiment determine if an ether
existed? - answerIf the beams form a certain interference pattern when they meet then
an ether exists.
What were the results of the Michelson-Morley experiment and what conclusion were
drawn from these results? - answerThey found that light moved at the same speed
regardless of the earth's motion through space. The conclusion was that there was no
ether.
Define proper time. - answerTime measured by the observer who sees events occur at
the same point in space
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