Calculating Time Dilation of a Rocket.

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the time dilation experienced by a rocket traveling at a significant speed relative to Earth, specifically at 100,000 m/s, over the duration of one day. The context is rooted in the principles of special relativity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the Lorentz factor (gamma) and expresses confusion about the next steps in the calculation. Some participants suggest verifying the choice of observer and clock used in the calculations. Others question the accuracy of the provided answer key and discuss potential errors in the assumptions or calculations.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem and questioning the validity of the answer key. There is a focus on clarifying the relationship between the elapsed times on different clocks and the implications of the calculations made by the original poster.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of showing work to identify potential errors and clarify assumptions about the problem setup. There is a mention of the need to consider the correct number of nanoseconds in a day as a possible source of confusion.

alex1261
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Homework Statement


The problem was asking to find the time dilation of a rocket traveling upwards at 100,000 m/s with the reference point being Earth for a duration of a day.


Homework Equations


1/√(1-(β^2))
Δt = γΔt'

The Attempt at a Solution


I've calculating gamma to be 1.000000055, but I'm a little confused on where to go next. Do I just multiple gamma by Δt'? However, that gives me an incorrect and unreasonable answer. The answer key says that the answer should be 9ns. Any help is appreciated thanks.
 
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Do I just multiple gamma by Δt'?
Pretty much - decide which observer and which clock.
However, that gives me an incorrect and unreasonable answer.
You probably picked the wrong clock or had the wrong number of nanoseconds in a day or somethinfg like that.
This is why we ask you to show your working - so we can figure out how to instruct you properly.
something The answer key says that the answer should be 9ns.
i.e. over the course of a day, one of the clocks will lose 9ns with respect to the other one. i.e. the question wants the difference between the elapsed times on each clock.

when 1day passes on the Earth, the Earth observer sees the rocket clock to have ticked off 1day+T nanoseconds. How do you find T?
 
I suspect that the supplied answer is incorrect. Nobody's perfect.
 
I suspect that the supplied answer is incorrect.
I think you are right there.
 

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