Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 37 - Relativity - Problems - Page 1151: 80

Answer

The Earth's diameter contracts by $~~63.7~mm$

Work Step by Step

We can find $\gamma$: $\gamma = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-(v/c)^2}}$ $\gamma = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-(\frac{3.0\times 10^4~m/s}{3.0\times 10^8~m/s})^2}}$ $\gamma = 1.000000005$ We can find the diameter according to an observer: $d = \frac{d_0}{\gamma}$ $d = \frac{12,740~km}{1.000000005}$ $d = 12,739.9999363~km$ We can find the amount that the diameter is contracted: $d_0-d = 0.0000637~km$ $d_0-d = 0.0637~m$ $d_0-d = 63.7~mm$ The Earth's diameter contracts by $~~63.7~mm$
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