Oral Exam Problems: Physics in Spacetime,
Spring 2019
1. Two observers U and V meet at the origin of a two-dimensional spacetime.
U is moving with relative velocity u with respect to V , with
u > 0. At the same time V observes a particle passing through the
origin with relative velocity v, where v < u. U sees the particle moving
with relative velocity −v.
Draw a spacetime diagram to illustrate the situation. Show that
v =
1
u
1 −
√
1 − u2 .
2. Pulsars are stars which emit radio pulses at regular intervals. Alice
and Bob count pulses from a very distant pulsar in the y-direction.
Alice travels in the x-direction with velocity u = 24/25 relative to Bob
for seven years, then reverses and returns with the same velocity while
Bob stays at home. At the end of the trip they have counted the same
number of pulses. Show that when Alice returns she has aged by 14
years while Bob has aged by 50.
Find the angle to the x-axis at which Alice observes the pulsar.
3. Consider a photon-drive rocket, driven by shooting a powerful laser
(of fixed power and wavelength) out of its tail. The change in relative
velocity between two values of proper time, τi and τf is v. What is the
ratio of the masses Mi/Mf of the rocket at the two times?
1