Relativistic Kinematics questions

Thread starter sam_021
Start date Apr 25, 2011
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Kinematics Relativistic Relativistic kinematics

In summary, Relativistic Kinematics is a branch of physics that deals with the motion of objects at speeds close to the speed of light, taking into account the principles of special relativity. It differs from Classical Kinematics, which only applies to slower speeds and does not consider time dilation and length contraction. The velocity of an object in Relativistic Kinematics can be calculated using the formula v = (u + w) / (1 + uw/c^2), and time dilation is a phenomenon where time appears to pass slower for an object in motion. In Relativistic Kinematics, the concept of simultaneity is relative, as two events that are simultaneous for one observer may not be simultaneous for another due to the effects of

Apr 25, 2011

sam_021

Homework Statement

The Attempt at a Solution

So I don't know where I am supposed to go after I right down the energy conservation equation

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Apr 25, 2011

Klockan3

In problems like this always try to translate the frame so that it is fixed in their center of mass, then it gets much easier to calculate on the photons afterwards.

1. What is Relativistic Kinematics?

Relativistic Kinematics is a branch of physics that deals with the motion of objects at speeds close to the speed of light. It takes into account the principles of special relativity, which states that the laws of physics are the same for all observers in uniform motion.

2. What is the difference between Relativistic Kinematics and Classical Kinematics?

Classical Kinematics only applies to objects moving at speeds much slower than the speed of light, while Relativistic Kinematics is used for objects moving at speeds close to the speed of light. Relativistic Kinematics also takes into account the effects of time dilation and length contraction, which are not considered in Classical Kinematics.

3. How do you calculate the velocity of an object in Relativistic Kinematics?

The velocity of an object in Relativistic Kinematics is calculated using the formula v = (u + w) / (1 + uw/c^2), where v is the final velocity, u is the initial velocity, w is the relative velocity, and c is the speed of light.

4. What is time dilation in Relativistic Kinematics?

Time dilation is a phenomenon in which time appears to pass slower for an object in motion relative to an observer. It is a consequence of the principles of special relativity and is taken into account in Relativistic Kinematics calculations.

5. How does Relativistic Kinematics affect the concept of simultaneity?

In Relativistic Kinematics, the concept of simultaneity is relative. This means that two events that are simultaneous for one observer may not be simultaneous for another observer in a different frame of reference. This is due to the effects of time dilation and length contraction.