/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Q. 45 The star Alpha goes supernova. T... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

The star Alpha goes supernova. Ten years later and 100 ly away, as measured by astronomers in the galaxy, star Beta explodes.

a. Is it possible that the explosion of Alpha is in any way responsible for the explosion of Beta? Explain.

b. An alien spacecraft passing through the galaxy finds that the distance between the two explosions is 120 ly. According to the aliens, what is the time between the explosions?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The explosion of alpha is not responsible for the explosion of beta. According to the aliens, the time between the explosions is 67.1 years.

Step by step solution

01

Given information

We have given that, the star Alpha goes supernova. Ten years later and 100 ly away, as measured by astronomers in the galaxy, star Beta explodes. An alien spacecraft passing through the galaxy finds that the distance between the two explosions is 120 ly.

02

Common information for both parts

Let S be the galaxy's frame of reference and S' be alien spacecraft's frame of reference. The spacetime interval between the two events is invariant in all frames.

03

Part(a) Step 1.

The light from Alpha's explosion will travel 10ly in 10 years.

04

Step 2.

Since neither light nor any other signal from alpha can travel 100ly in 10 years to reach beta, the explosion of alpha could not cause the explosion of beta.

05

Part(b) Step 1.

The spacetime interval between two events is invariant, so :

s=c2(Δt)2-(Δx)2=c2(Δt')2-(Δx')2
06

Step 2.

Substituting the values in equation :

(11yy)2(10y)2-(100ly)2=(11yy)2(Δt')2-(120ly)2

(10y)2-(100y)2=(Δt')2-(120y)2

Δt'=67.1years.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

A modest supernova (the explosion of a massive star at the end of its life cycle) releases 1.5 * 1044 J of energy in a few seconds. This is enough to outshine the entire galaxy in which it occurs. Suppose a star with the mass of our sun collides with an antimatter star of equal mass, causing complete annihilation. What is the ratio of the energy released in this star-antistar collision to the energy released in the supernova?

FIGURE Q36.5 shows Peggy standing at the center of her railroad car as it passes Ryan on the ground. Firecrackers attached to the ends of the car explode. A short time later, the flashes from the two explosions arrive at Peggy at the same time.

a. Were the explosions simultaneous in Peggy’s reference frame? If not, which exploded first? Explain.

b. Were the explosions simultaneous in Ryan’s reference frame?

At what speed, in m/s,would a moving clock lose role="math" localid="1649531760117" 1.0nsin 1.0day according to experimenters on the ground?

Hint: Use the binomial approximation.

The nuclear reaction that powers the sun is the fusion of four protons into a helium nucleus. The process involves several steps, but the net reaction is simply 4p→He4+Energy. The mass of a proton, to four significant figures, is 1.673×10-27kg, and the mass of a helium nucleus is known to be 6.644×10-27kg.

a. How much energy is released in each fusion?

b. What fraction of the initial rest mass energy is this energy?

At what speed, as a fraction of c, must an electron move so that its total energy is10% more than its rest mass energy?

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.