Q133 · Practice questionComplex familiar5 marks
QUESTION 133 (5 marks)
Two flashes occur at the same point in a spacecraft frame, separated by on the spacecraft clock. The spacecraft moves at relative to Earth.
a)[2 marks]
Identify the proper time and calculate .
b)[2 marks]
Find the Earth-frame time interval.
c)[1 mark]
Explain why the Earth-frame events do not occur at the same position.
WORKED SOLUTION
5 marksPractice marking scheme
ANSWER
During of Earth time the spacecraft moves, so the locations of the two flashes differ in the Earth frame.
Worked solution
Part (a): The spacecraft clock measures proper time tau because both events occur at the same spacecraft position. .
Part (b): tau.
Part (c): During of Earth time the spacecraft moves, so the locations of the two flashes differ in the Earth frame.
Part (a): completes the requested reasoning and obtains a correct result.
Part (b): completes the requested reasoning and obtains a correct result.
Part (c): completes the requested reasoning and obtains a correct result.
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