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Questions and Answers
What does the Lorentz factor represent in special relativity?
What does the Lorentz factor represent in special relativity?
- The gravitational constant
- The speed of light in a vacuum
- The time dilation factor (correct)
- The Planck constant
In special relativity, when an object moves at a significant fraction of the speed of light, how does time dilation affect the observed time in the moving frame?
In special relativity, when an object moves at a significant fraction of the speed of light, how does time dilation affect the observed time in the moving frame?
- Time speeds up
- Time slows down (correct)
- Time reverses
- Time remains unchanged
If an object is moving at half the speed of light (0.5 relative to an observer), what is the Lorentz factor (γ) for this motion?
If an object is moving at half the speed of light (0.5 relative to an observer), what is the Lorentz factor (γ) for this motion?
- 1.15 (correct)
- 1.61
- 1.85
- 0.55
An astronaut in a spaceship is traveling at 0.8c relative to Earth. How much time dilation will the astronaut experience for every Earth hour that passes?
An astronaut in a spaceship is traveling at 0.8c relative to Earth. How much time dilation will the astronaut experience for every Earth hour that passes?
A particle accelerates to a velocity of 0.9c. What is the Lorentz factor (γ) for this particle's motion?
A particle accelerates to a velocity of 0.9c. What is the Lorentz factor (γ) for this particle's motion?
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Study Notes
Special Relativity and Lorentz Factor
- The Lorentz factor represents the time dilation effect in special relativity
- It is related to the speed of light in a vacuum
- When an object moves at a significant fraction of the speed of light, time in the moving frame slows down
- If an object moves at half the speed of light, the Lorentz factor (γ) for this motion is 1.15
- An astronaut traveling at 0.8c relative to Earth will experience time dilation, experiencing 0.6 hours for every Earth hour that passes
- For a particle accelerating to a velocity of 0.9c, the Lorentz factor (γ) for this motion is 2.3
- Two spaceships, A and B, moving relative to each other at 0.6c, experience time dilation
- If a clock on spaceship A records 10 minutes, a clock on spaceship B will record 8 minutes and 20 seconds due to time dilation
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