Calculating Time Interval and Speed of Inertial Clock

In summary: There are two clocks, one at each event. One is the home clock, and the other is a moving clock on a craft. The craft is traveling at velocity v. The craft's clock is moving at the speed of light. The home clock is stationary and moving slower than the speed of light. A) The home clock measures 24ns between events. The moving clock measures 20.78ns between events. The moving clock is moving at a velocity between the two events. We know the velocity of light, C, is the same for both clocks. The home clock measures that the distance between events is 12ns. The moving clock measures that the distance between events is
  • #1
rh23
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Homework Statement


In the Home Frame, two events are observed to occur with a spatial separation of 12ns and a time coordination separation of 24ns.

A)An inertial clock travels between these events in such a manner as to be present at both events. What timer interval does this clock read between the events?

B)what is the speed of this clock, as measured in the Home Frame


Homework Equations



ΔS^2 = Δt^2 -Δd^2

The Attempt at a Solution



A) It sounds like the clock is a space-time clock so i assume i am solving for ΔS
ΔS = square root of (24^2 - 12^2) = 20.78 ns

B) For B I did speed = distance/time so i did 12ns/20.78ns to get .58 which means its speed is .58C. Multiply this by 3x10^8 m/s and i get 1.74 m/s
 
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  • #2
Part A is good. Part B, I'm not really sure what velocity you solved for. It's a velocity that doesn't make sense. You did v=d/t', these are mixed reference frame values. You need to have your reference frames match up with their own values to get the right velocity. As such, there's a couple different formulations for the velocity. One is easy, the other will give you a sanity check and some practice.
 

1. How do you calculate the time interval of an inertial clock?

To calculate the time interval of an inertial clock, you need to know the initial time and final time of the clock's measurement. Then, you can subtract the initial time from the final time to get the time interval.

2. What is the formula for calculating the speed of an inertial clock?

The formula for calculating the speed of an inertial clock is distance divided by time. The distance can be determined by the clock's movement, and the time can be calculated by subtracting the initial time from the final time.

3. How does the speed of an inertial clock affect its time measurement?

The speed of an inertial clock does not affect its time measurement. As long as the clock is moving at a constant velocity, its time measurement will remain accurate. However, if the clock is accelerating or decelerating, its time measurement may be affected.

4. Can the time interval of an inertial clock be negative?

No, the time interval of an inertial clock cannot be negative. The initial time should always be less than the final time, resulting in a positive time interval. If the initial time is greater than the final time, the clock's measurement would be invalid.

5. How does the calculation of time interval and speed of an inertial clock relate to the theory of relativity?

The theory of relativity states that time is relative and can be affected by factors such as speed and gravity. The calculation of time interval and speed of an inertial clock takes these factors into account, making it a fundamental concept in the theory of relativity.

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