Date | November 2016 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 16N.3.SL.TZ0.5 |
Level | Standard level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | Time zone 0 |
Command term | Define | Question number | 5 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Define proper length.
A charged pion decays spontaneously in a time of 26 ns as measured in the frame of reference in which it is stationary. The pion moves with a velocity of 0.96c relative to the Earth. Calculate the pion’s lifetime as measured by an observer on the Earth.
In the pion reference frame, the Earth moves a distance X before the pion decays. In the Earth reference frame, the pion moves a distance Y before the pion decays. Demonstrate, with calculations, how length contraction applies to this situation.
Markscheme
the length of an object in its rest frame
\(\frac{1}{{\sqrt {\left( {1 - {{0.96}^2}} \right)} }}\) OR \(\gamma = 3.6\)
ECF for wrong \(\gamma\)
93 «ns»
Award [2] for a bald correct answer.
«X is» 7.5 «m» in frame on pion
«Y is» 26.8 «m» in frame on Earth
identifies proper length as the Earth measurement
OR
identifies Earth distance according to pion as contracted length
OR
a statement explaining that one of the length is shorter than the other one
Examiners report
Syllabus sections
- 17N.3.SL.TZ0.5e.ii: Deduce, without further calculation, how the time taken for A to meet B, according to an...
- 17N.3.SL.TZ0.5e.i: Determine, according to an observer in A, the time taken for B to meet A.
- 17N.3.SL.TZ0.5d: Determine, according to an observer in A, the velocity of B.
- 17N.3.SL.TZ0.5c: Identify the terms in the formula. u′ = \(\frac{{u - v}}{{1 - \frac{{uv}}{{{c^2}}}}}\)
- 17N.3.SL.TZ0.5b: Calculate, according to the observer on Earth, the time taken for A and B to meet.
- 17N.3.SL.TZ0.5a: Define frame of reference.
- 17M.3.SL.TZ2.5c.iii: Calculate the value of c 2t 2 – x 2.
- 17M.3.SL.TZ2.5b.ii: which lamp turns on first.
- 17M.3.SL.TZ2.5b.i: the time interval between the lamps turning on.
- 17M.3.SL.TZ2.5a.ii: A space shuttle is released from the rocket. The shuttle moves with speed 0.20c to the right...
- 17M.3.SL.TZ2.5a.i: Calculate the length of the rocket according to X.
- 17M.3.SL.TZ2.4: Muons are unstable particles with a proper lifetime of 2.2 μs. Muons are produced 2.0...
- 17M.3.SL.TZ1.4e: A second train is moving at a velocity of –0.70c with respect to the ground. Calculate the...
- 17M.3.SL.TZ1.4d.iv: Demonstrate that the spacetime interval between events B and F is invariant.
- 17M.3.SL.TZ1.4d.iii: Apply a Lorentz transformation to show that the time difference between events B and F...
- 17M.3.SL.TZ1.4c: Later the train is travelling at a speed of 0.60c. Observer P measures the length of the...
- 17M.3.SL.TZ1.4b: Calculate the speed v of the train for the ratio...
- 17M.3.SL.TZ1.4a: State which of the two time intervals is a proper time.
- 16N.3.SL.TZ0.5c: In the pion reference frame, the Earth moves a distance X before the pion decays. In the...
- 16N.3.SL.TZ0.5b: A charged pion decays spontaneously in a time of 26 ns as measured in the frame of reference...
- 16M.3.HL.TZ0.5b: The electron is detected at a distance of 0.800 m from the emitting nucleus as measured in...
- 16M.3.SL.TZ0.5d: Outline why the answer to (c) represents a proper time interval.
- 16M.3.SL.TZ0.5c: For the reference frame of the electron, calculate the time between its emission at the...
- 16M.3.SL.TZ0.5b: For the reference frame of the laboratory, calculate the time taken for the electron to reach...
- 16M.3.SL.TZ0.5a: For the reference frame of the electron, calculate the distance travelled by the detector.
- 15M.3.HL.TZ1.14a: An observer at rest relative to Earth observes two spaceships. Each spaceship is moving with...
- 15M.3.HL.TZ1.14b: The observer on Earth in (a) watches one spaceship as it travels to a distant star at a speed...
- 15M.3.SL.TZ1.11b: The observer on Earth in (a) watches one spaceship as it travels to a distant star at a speed...
- 15M.3.SL.TZ1.11a: An observer at rest relative to Earth observes two spaceships. Each spaceship is moving with...
- 15M.3.SL.TZ2.11a: Determine the time, in years, that it takes the spacecraft to reach the planet according to...
- 15M.3.SL.TZ2.11c: F and B are two flashing lights located at the ends of the space station, as shown. As the...
- 15M.3.SL.TZ2.11b: The spacecraft passes a space station that is at rest relative to the Earth. The proper...
- 15N.3.HL.TZ0.12b.i: A light on the base station flashes regularly. According to Suzanne, the light flashes every...
- 15N.3.HL.TZ0.12b.ii: While moving away from the base station, Suzanne observes another spacecraft travelling...
- 15N.3.HL.TZ0.12c.i: Suzanne’s spacecraft is on a journey to a star. According to Juan, the distance from the base...
- 14M.3.SL.TZ1.8c: Explain which of the time measurements in (b)(i) and (b)(ii) is a proper time interval.
- 14M.3.SL.TZ1.8a: State what is meant by an inertial frame of reference.
- 14M.3.SL.TZ1.8b: A spaceship travels from space station Alpha to space station Zebra at a constant speed of...
- 14M.3.SL.TZ1.8d: The spaceship arrives at Zebra and enters an airlock at constant speed. O is an observer at...
- 15N.3.SL.TZ0.12b.iv: Using relativistic kinematics, the relative speeds of the two spacecraft is shown to be...
- 15N.3.SL.TZ0.12c: Suzanne’s spacecraft is on a journey to a star. According to Juan, the distance from the base...
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.18b.i: Calculate the average decay time of a muon as observed by an observer on the surface of the...
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.19a: Calculate the speed of the positron as measured in the frame of reference of the electron.
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.18a: Deduce that few muons would be expected to arrive at the surface of the Earth if...
- 14N.3.HL.TZ0.18b.ii: Explain, with a calculation, why many muons reach the surface of the Earth before they have...
- 14N.3.SL.TZ0.11a: State and explain the order of arrival of X and Y at the mirrors according to Jaime.
- 14N.3.SL.TZ0.11b: Outline whether the return of X and Y to Daniela are simultaneous according to Jaime.
- 14N.3.SL.TZ0.12a: One of the postulates of special relativity refers to the speed of light. State the other...
- 14M.3.SL.TZ2.10a: State the reason why the time interval between event 1 and event 2 is a proper time interval...
- 14M.3.SL.TZ2.10c: (i) Calculate, according to Judy, the distance separating the Earth and planet P. (ii) ...
- 14M.3.SL.TZ2.10b: (i) Calculate the time interval between event 1 and event 2 according to Peter. (ii) ...
- 13M.3.SL.TZ1.10b: At a later time the police spacecraft is alongside Speedy’s spacecraft. The police...
- 13M.3.SL.TZ1.10c: The police spacecraft is travelling at a constant speed of 0.5c relative to Speedy’s frame of...
- 13M.3.HL.TZ1.14b: Officer Sylvester switches on the blue flashing lamps on his police spacecraft. (i)...
- 13M.3.HL.TZ2.16a: Show that, if the muons move at non-relativistic speed, the number of muons detected at sea...
- 13M.3.HL.TZ2.16b: The muons in (a) move toward the surface of Earth with a relativistic speed of 0.968c. (i)...
- 12M.3.SL.TZ1.11a: State and explain whether the pendulum period is a proper time interval for observer T,...
- 12M.3.SL.TZ1.11c: Observer T is standing in the middle of a train watched by observer G at the side of the...
- 12M.3.SL.TZ1.11b: Observer T measures the period of oscillations of the pendulum to be 0.850s. Calculate the...
- 12M.3.HL.TZ1.11e: Observer G sees a second train moving towards the first train (i.e. towards the left) at a...
- 12M.3.HL.TZ1.12a: In an experiment at CERN in 1964, a neutral pion moving at a speed of 0.99975c with respect...
- 11M.3.HL.TZ2.10d: Carrie and Louise, two observers in a spaceship, view a light source placed close to Carrie....
- 11M.3.SL.TZ2.10a: Carrie measures her spaceship to have a length of 100m. Peter measures Carrie’s spaceship to...
- 11M.3.SL.TZ2.10b: According to Carrie, it takes the star ten years to reach her. Using your answer to (a)(ii),...
- 11M.3.SL.TZ2.10c: According to Peter, as Carrie passes the star she sends a radio signal. Determine the time,...
- 11N.3.SL.TZ0.9b: In a thought experiment to illustrate the concept of simultaneity, Vladimir is standing on...
- 11N.3.HL.TZ0.12f: Suggest how your answers to (e)(i) and (e)(ii) provide evidence that supports the theory of...
- 12M.3.SL.TZ2.10b: A rocket moving at a relativistic speed passes an observer who is at rest on the...
- 12N.3.SL.TZ0.12b: (i) Calculate the time interval t between event 1 and event 2 according to an observer in the...
- 12N.3.SL.TZ0.12c: Relative to an observer on the ground, (i) calculate the distance between S and D. (ii)...
- 11N.3.SL.TZ0.9a: One of the two postulates of special relativity may be stated as: “The laws of physics are...
- 11N.3.SL.TZ0.9c: The speed v of the carriage is 0.70c. Vladimir measures the length of the table at which...
- 11N.3.HL.TZ0.12e: Evidence for time dilation comes from the decay of muons. A pulse of muons produced by cosmic...
- 12M.3.SL.TZ2.10a: State the postulate of special relativity that is related to the speed of light.
- 12N.3.SL.TZ0.12a: In the context of the theory of relativity, state what is meant by an event.
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.14a: Calculate the time it takes the pulse to travel from S to D, according to (i) an observer in...
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.14b: Calculate the distance between the source S and the detector D according to observer Q.
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.14c: A particular nucleus in the pulse decays by emitting an electron in the same direction...
- 12M.3.HL.TZ2.14d: The laboratory observer and observer Q agree that by the time the pulse arrives at D, half of...
- 12N.3.HL.TZ0.16a: (i) Define the rest mass of a particle. (ii) The rest mass of a particle is said to be an...
- 13N.3.HL.TZ0.12d: Muons are produced in the upper atmosphere of Earth and travel towards the surface of Earth...
- 13N.3.HL.TZ0.12b: A radio signal is sent to both space stations in (a) from a point midway between them. On...
- 13N.3.SL.TZ0.9b: A radio signal is sent to both space stations in (a) from a point midway between them. On...
- 11M.3.SL.TZ1.11a: Define proper length.
- 11M.3.SL.TZ1.11b: A spaceship is travelling to the right at speed 0.75 c, through a tunnel which is open...
- 11M.3.SL.TZ1.11c: Two sources of light are located at each end of the tunnel. The diagram below shows...
- 11M.3.HL.TZ1.17a: Calculate the velocity of rocket 2 relative to the Earth, using the (i) Galilean...
- 11M.3.HL.TZ1.17b: Comment on your answers in (a).
- 10N.3.SL.TZ0.D1d: The time for the pulse to travel from \({{\text{M}}_{\text{2}}}\) to...
- 10N.3.SL.TZ0.D1a: On the diagram, sketch the path of the light pulse between \({{\text{M}}_{\text{1}}}\) and...
- 10N.3.SL.TZ0.D1c: State, according to special relativity, the length of the path of the light between...
- 10N.3.HL.TZ0.H1g: The questions (e) and (f ) introduce the concepts of time dilation and length contraction....
- 10N.3.SL.TZ0.D1b: (i) State, according to Jill, the distance moved by the spaceship in time \(\Delta...
- 10N.3.SL.TZ0.D1e: According to a clock at rest with respect to Jill, a clock in the spaceship runs slow by a...