- #1
Frank_Mennella
Homework Statement
A 16m long vessel moved passed you at a relative speed of 0.86c. What was the length of the vessel recorded by your measuring device?
Homework Equations
Speed = distance/time
t=to/√1-v2/c2
L=Lo⋅√1-v2/c2
The Attempt at a Solution
Ok, so I can just sub the 16m and 0.86c in the length contraction formula and get L≈8.16m
However, I wasn't aware of the length contraction formula, but only of the time dilation formula, which I used (with s=d/t) to find my answer:
So,
t= d/s
t= 16/(0.86 x 3 x108)
t=6.2x10-8
Therefore, we know the time it takes the particle to travel the distance, (reference frame of the particle)
We can use the time dilation formula to find to (reference frame of stationary observant)
6.2x10-8=to/√1-(0.86x3x108)2/(3x108)2
to=6.2x10-8⋅√1-(0.86x3x108)2/(3x108)2
to=3.16x10-8 This is the time it takes the particle to travel the distance at the reference frame of a stationary observant.
Therefore, to find the length of the vessel I use:
d= s⋅t
d= 0.86x3x108⋅3.16x10-8
d=8.15m (Remember that I have rounded up some numbers)
Is that a second way to find the answer? Does it make sense? Me and my professor were looking for an explanation and would like to know why does or doesn't this work.