DP Physics Questionbank

Description

Nature of science:

Visualization of models: The visualization of the description of events in terms of spacetime diagrams is an enormous advance in understanding the concept of spacetime. (1.10)

Understandings:

• Spacetime diagrams
• Worldlines
• The twin paradox

Applications and skills:

• Representing events on a spacetime diagram as points
• Representing the positions of a moving particle on a spacetime diagram by a curve (the worldline)
• Representing more than one inertial reference frame on the same spacetime diagram
• Determining the angle between a worldline for specific speed and the time axis on a spacetime diagram
• Solving problems on simultaneity and kinematics using spacetime diagrams
• Representing time dilation and length contraction on spacetime diagrams
• Describing the twin paradox
• Resolving of the twin paradox through spacetime diagrams

Guidance:

• Examination questions will refer to spacetime diagrams; these are also known as Minkowski diagrams
• Quantitative questions involving spacetime diagrams will be limited to constant velocity
• Spacetime diagrams can have t or ct on the vertical axis
• Examination questions may use units in which c = 1

Data booklet reference:

Theory of knowledge:

• Can paradoxes be solved by reason alone, or do they require the utilization of other ways of knowing?

Aims:

• Aim 4: spacetime diagrams allow one to analyse problems in relativity more reliably

Directly related questions

• 18M.3.SL.TZ2.4d.ii: Estimate, using the spacetime diagram, the time at which event B occurs for the spaceship.
• 18M.3.SL.TZ2.4d.i: Construct event A and event B on the spacetime diagram.
• 18M.3.SL.TZ1.5b: Deduce, showing your working on the spacetime diagram, the value of ct according to the Earth...
• 18M.3.SL.TZ1.5a: Draw on the spacetime diagram the worldline of B according to the Earth observer and label it B.
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.6d: For an observer on the train, it is the tunnel that is moving and therefore will appear length...
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.6c: Calculate the velocity of the train, according to an observer at rest relative to the tunnel, at...
• 17N.3.SL.TZ0.6b: Draw a spacetime diagram for this situation according to an observer at rest relative to the tunnel.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ2.5c.i: On the diagram label the coordinates x and ct.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ2.5c.ii: State and explain whether the ct coordinate in (c)(i) is less than, equal to or greater than 1.0 m.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.4d.ii: Deduce, using the spacetime diagram, which light was turned on first according to observer P.
• 17M.3.SL.TZ1.4d.i: Draw the time \(ct'\) and space \(x'\) axes for observer P’s reference frame on the spacetime...
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.7d: Suggest how the twin paradox arises and how it is resolved.
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.7c: Draw, for the reference frame of twin A, a spacetime diagram that represents the worldlines for...
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.7b: Determine the time taken for the journey in the reference frame of twin B.
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.7a: Calculate the time taken for the journey in the reference frame of twin A as measured on Earth.
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.6c: An event Z is shown on the diagram. Label the co-ordinates of this event in the reference frame...
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.6b: Draw, on the diagram, the x′-axis for the reference frame of S.
• 16N.3.SL.TZ0.6a: Calculate the angle between the worldline of S and the worldline of the Earth.
• 16M.3.HL.TZ0.6c: Three flashing light beacons, X, Y and Z, are used to guide another rocket C. The flash events...
• 16M.3.HL.TZ0.6b: One rocket passes the other at event E. For the reference frame of the Earth observer,...
• 16M.3.HL.TZ0.6a: For the reference frame of the Earth observer, calculate the speed of rocket A in terms of the...
• 16M.3.SL.TZ0.6b: Using the graph opposite, deduce the order in which (i) the beacons flash in the reference frame...
• 16M.3.SL.TZ0.6a: For the reference frame of the Earth observer, calculate the speed of rocket A in terms of the...
• 15N.3.HL.TZ0.12c.ii: Suzanne then returns to the base station at the same speed. The total time since leaving the base...
• 11M.3.HL.TZ2.17b: State the shape of the path in spacetime of a body (i) moving at constant velocity. (ii)...
• 11M.3.HL.TZ2.17a: Describe what is meant by spacetime.
• 13N.3.HL.TZ0.14a: Describe what is meant by spacetime.