Question

A rectangular painting measures 1.0 m tall along the y' axis and 3.0 m wide along the

Answer 1

Answer:

a) 1 m tall, 3 m wide

b) 1 m tall, 1.31 m wide

Explanation:

According to the captain of the spaceship, the dimensions of the picture is the same i.e 1.0 m tall along the y' axis and 3.0 m wide along the x' axis.

b) The dimensions of the picture as seen by an observer on the Earth along the y axis will remain the same, 1.0 m tall, for the direction of the y axis is perpendicular to the spaceship movement.

The dimensions of the picture as seen by an observer on the Earth along the x axis will reduce if we are to go by the Lorentz contraction:

L(x) = L(x)' * √[1 - (v²/c²)]

where

L(x)' = the dimensions of the picture along the x axis on the spaceship,

v² = the speed of the spaceship and c² = the speed of light in the vacuum.

On substituting, we have

L(x) = 3 * √[1 - (0.81c²/c²)]

L(x) = 1.31 m