# Body decay on the axis of an infinite wedge

avenior

## Homework Statement

On the axis of an infinite wedge that moves with velocity ##\vec{V}##, the body decays with the formation of a lot of splinters that fly away uniformly in all directions with velocity ##\vec{u}##. What should be the angle of the wedge that half of the splinters fall on its side surface?

## Homework Equations

Lorentz transformations

## The Attempt at a Solution

##\operatorname{tg}\frac{\alpha}{2} = \frac{u}{V}\sqrt{1-\frac{V^2}{c^2}}##

As I understand, the figure to this problem looks like this

If ##\varphi## is the angle between ##\vec{u}## and ##Ox##, then ##\vec{u}_{spl} = (u \cos \varphi, u \sin \varphi )##. By making the Lorentz transformations, we obtain that $$\vec{u^{'}}_{spl} = \left(\frac{u \cos \varphi - V}{1 - \frac{Vu \cos \varphi}{c^2}}, \frac{1}{\gamma} \frac{u \sin \varphi}{1 - \frac{Vu \cos \varphi}{c^2}} \right).$$
How can we take into account that the half should fall to the surface?

#### Attachments

• h_1512489612_4585045_d5ef432bbb.png
18.9 KB · Views: 418
Last edited:

Homework Helper
Gold Member
2022 Award
How can we take into account that the half should fall to the surface?
What aspect of the velocity vector determines whether the splinter will eventually collide with the moving surface? Hint: for a moving infinite plane surface, it might as well be moving perpendicularly to itself. Any sideways movement is irrelevant.

avenior
What aspect of the velocity vector determines whether the splinter will eventually collide with the moving surface?
The splinter will collide with the moving surface if $$-\operatorname{tg}\frac{\alpha}{2} < \frac{u \sin\varphi}{\gamma (u \cos\varphi - V)} < \operatorname{tg}\frac{\alpha}{2}$$

Homework Helper
Gold Member
2022 Award
The splinter will collide with the moving surface if $$-\operatorname{tg}\frac{\alpha}{2} < \frac{u \sin\varphi}{\gamma (u \cos\varphi - V)} < \operatorname{tg}\frac{\alpha}{2}$$
Doesn't look quite right.
If u cos(φ) > V there should be no possibility of collision. For u cos(φ) < V, the probability should increase as V increases.

avenior
avenior
Ok, thanks. But how does it relate to the fact that half should collide with the surface?

Homework Helper
Gold Member
2022 Award
Ok, thanks. But how does it relate to the fact that half should collide with the surface?
If half are colliding with the wedge, what range of values of φ would that be?

Did you find the sign correction?

avenior
If half are colliding with the wedge, what range of values of φ would that be?
##\cos \varphi < \frac{V}{u}## and ##\varphi## should depend on ##\frac{\alpha}{2}##, but I don't understand how to take into account half of the splinters.

Homework Helper
Gold Member
2022 Award
##\cos \varphi < \frac{V}{u}## and ##\varphi## should depend on ##\frac{\alpha}{2}##, but I don't understand how to take into account half of the splinters.
No, forget the wedge for a moment, just look at the source. What range of φ would constitute half?

avenior
No, forget the wedge for a moment, just look at the source. What range of φ would constitute half?
##\varphi \in \left[0,\pi\right]## or ##\varphi \in \left[\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{3 \pi}{2}\right]##?

Homework Helper
Gold Member
2022 Award
##\varphi \in \left[0,\pi\right]## or ##\varphi \in \left[\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{3 \pi}{2}\right]##?
Yes, one of those. You are measuring φ from the positive x axis, right? So which of those ranges do you think?

avenior
You are measuring φ from the positive x axis, right? So which of those ranges do you think?
Yes. Given the condition of the task, I think ##\varphi \in \left[\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{3 \pi}{2}\right]##.