| Date | May 2011 | Marks available | 2 | Reference code | 11M.3.HL.TZ2.17 |
| Level | Higher level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | Time zone 2 |
| Command term | Explain | Question number | 17 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
This question is about spacetime.
Describe what is meant by spacetime.
[2]
a.
State the shape of the path in spacetime of a body
(i) moving at constant velocity.
(ii) orbiting the Earth.
[2]
b.
Explain how spacetime is used to describe the gravitational attraction between Earth and a satellite orbiting the Earth.
[2]
c.
Markscheme
a coordinate system;
in which time is at right angles to space coordinates / consisting of three dimensions of space and one of time;
a.
(i) straight line;
(ii) curve/circle/ellipse;
b.
(general relativity suggests that) Earth warps spacetime;
the satellite follows shortest path in spacetime which is an orbit about Earth;
c.
Examiners report
[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.
Syllabus sections
Option A: Relativity » Option A: Relativity (Additional higher level option topics) » A.5 – General relativity (HL only)
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