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Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]
Exam
Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2]
Subject
Physics
Chapter
The Special Theory of Relativity

Concepts Of Physics MCQ Edition [Volume 2] · Physics · The Special Theory of Relativity

When the speed of a rod travelling parallel to its length at a...

When the speed of a rod travelling parallel to its length at a relativistic speed is doubled,

Options

  1. Aits mass will increase
  2. Bits mass will become double the initial value
  3. Cits length will decrease
  4. Dits length will become half of the initial value

Correct answer

C. its length will decrease

Step-by-step solution

The relativistic mass mm of an object moving with velocity vv is given by:

m=m01−v2c2m = \dfrac{m_0}{\sqrt{1 - \dfrac{v^2}{c^2}}}

The relativistic length LL of an object moving with velocity vv parallel to its length is given by:

L=L01−v2c2L = L_0 \sqrt{1 - \dfrac{v^2}{c^2}}

When the speed vv is doubled to 2v2v, the term v2c2\dfrac{v^2}{c^2} increases to 4v2c2\dfrac{4v^2}{c^2}. Consequently, the factor 1−v2c2\sqrt{1 - \dfrac{v^2}{c^2}} decreases.

As the denominator in the mass expression decreases, the relativistic mass mm increases.

As the factor in the length expression decreases, the relativistic length LL decreases.

Since the dependence on vv is not linear, the mass does not exactly double and the length does not exactly become half for an arbitrary initial velocity.
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