In: Physics
An astronaut travels to a planet 10 light years away and then returns. The rocket has a velocity of 0.999c. One light-year = 9.5 × 1015 m.
For an observer on Earth, how many years are required for the round trip? Two significant digits in the answer is fine. (5 pts)
For an astronaut on the rocket, how many days are required for the round trip? (5 pts)
An extremely fast 100 m long train passes through a 100 m long train station without stopping. Passengers on the station platform think the train is 50 m long. How long does the station appear to the engineer on the moving train? (5 pts)
Indicate if the statements below are true or false: (5 pts)
(a) The speed of light is smaller in a moving reference frame.
(b) Time measured by a moving clock is faster than time measured by a clock at rest.
(c) The kinetic energy of an object goes to infinity as the velocity approaches the speed of light.
(d) Relativistic contraction will cause death if the length contraction is too extreme
(e) “Black holes” are black because light cannot escape from them.