Author Question: Which of the following scenarios would NOT demonstrate the usefulness of a spacetime diagram? ... (Read 41 times)

JMatthes · **on:** Jul 28, 2018

Which of the following scenarios would NOT demonstrate the usefulness of a spacetime diagram?
Determining whether an event separated in space and time can affect a future event
Telling whether clocks are synchronized
Showing how inertial frames affect simultaneity
Examining the twin paradox problem
Answer not shown

Question 2

A muon detector on Mount Washington observes greater numbers of muons than an identical detector located at a lower elevation, for example in Boston. The number detected in Boston, however, is much greater than the number predicted when considering the elevation separation between Boston and Mount Washington, the muons' speed, and the time of the muons' half-life. Why is this so?

sierramartinez · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 28, 2018

Answer to Question 1

All of the answers above are true demonstrations of the usefulness of a spacetime (or Minkowski) diagram.

Answer to Question 2

Einstein's special theory of relativity implies that moving objects experience time dilation. The half-life of stationary muons is a known value, and the explanation for greater numbers than classically predicted lower in the atmosphere comes from using the distance covered by the muons and the stationary half-life. The correction comes from the time dilation the muons experience.