Recent content by bcoats

v is the arbitrary linear velocity of frame O' wrt frame O. I thought about using relativistic velocity addition to determine the velocity of the electrons in the O' frame...but how can you figure that out? I suppose that the velocity of the electrons carrying the current should be some...

If someone could help me with this one that would be great. My prof has not been in his office in quite some time... -A wire of cross-sectional area A carries a current I, and has zero net electric charge in frame O. (a) Find the magnetic field a distance r from the axis of the wire (b)...

Thanks for the tip, you guys. I'll see if I can find a copy somewhere.

I am really struggling through Symon. I understand the mathematical proofs and perhaps the reasoning as well, but I really have problems completing any of the exercises. [I am speaking primarily of Ch.3 and later.] Without thorough examples worked step-by-step, I often find it very difficult...

I know that some people worship Symon's Mechanics 3rd Ed., but I find this book incredibly confusing...especially chapter 7, dealing with rotating coordinate systems. I follow the math, and perhaps the logic, but I can't even find a way to start the homework problems. The guy doesn't give any...

space-time diagram Drawing a space-time diagram should help improve your understanding. I drew one as a quick example...in Paint, so please excuse the crudity. The traveler is moving at v=.8c. Earth is sending one signal every year. The dotted lines represent the signals from earth, except...

Thanks! Thanks a million for those links! The explanation was much more comprehensive and sequential than the one that my prof gave...or rather didn't give. You're my savior, man! Ben

Hello, My prof has assigned several homework sets dealing with finding the relativistic cm frame for two particles. However, he has not been quite up to speed with grading them, so I don't know if I really have a clue what I'm doing, and he hasn't gone over it much in class. I can't seem to...