Free Printable Special Relativity and Time Dilation Exercises

1.

A rocket leaves Earth and travels to a star that is 20 light years (one light year equals 9.46E15 meters) as seen by the Earth. The speed of the rocket is 0.8c relative to the Earth. The time for the trip as measured on by the astronauts in the spaceship is

a)

25 years

b)

20 years

c)

15 years

d)

12 years

2.

Compared to clocks in a stationary reference frame moving clocks run

a)

faster

b)

slower

c)

at the same rate

3.

When you approach a light source, the light from that source has a speed

a)

greater than c.

b)

less than c.

c)

equal to c.

4.

We do not usually observe relativistic effects in our daily lives because

a)

we are moving at speeds much less than c.

b)

we are much larger than atoms.

c)

we are much heavier than elementary particles.

d)

we are much lighter than stars.

5.

Who was the creator of a special theory of relativity? It showed calculations of time and motion.

a)

Albert Einstein

b)

Hitler

c)

Nazis

6.

As an object approaches the speed of light, time for that object speeds up, and it ages more quickly.

a)

True

b)

False

7.

What does the relativity of simultaneity say?

a)

Two events may occur at the same time in one reference frame, but not another.

b)

If two events occur at the same time in one reference frame, they will occur at the same time in all reference frames.

8.

A postulate is something that is accepted as true at the beginning of a logical argument.

a)

True

b)

False

9.

How many postulates are there in the special theory of relativity?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

3

d)

4

10.

The speed of light is constant in all frames of reference.

a)

True

b)

False

11.

The laws of Physics change with your point of view.

a)

True

b)

False

12.

Einstein's time dilation equation was derived by very, very advanced mathematics.

a)

True

b)

False

13.

The speed of light (c) =

a)

3 x 10⁸miles/hour

b)

3 x 10⁸meters/second

c)

3 x 10⁸kilometers/hour

d)

none of these

14.

A rocket leaves Earth and travels to a star that is 10 light years (one light year equals 9.46E15 meters) as seen by the Earth. The speed of the rocket is 0.8c relative to the Earth. The time for the trip as measured on Earth is

a)

25 years

b)

20 years

c)

16 years

d)

12 years

15.

A passenger at the rear of a train traveling at 15 m/s relative to the ground throws a baseball with a speed of 15 m/s in the direction opposite the motion of the train. What is the velocity of the baseball relative to the ground as it leaves the thrower’s hand? In other words: how fast does a person on the ground see the ball move?

a)

30 m/s

b)

15 m/s

c)

0 m/s

d)

20 m/s

16.

A dog and a cat are at a stand-off, running towards each other, both at 12 m/s. What is the magnitude of velocity of the cat relative to the dog?

a)

12 m/s

b)

24 m/s

c)

0 m/s

d)

6 m/s

17.

There are two twins on Earth. One flies off on a spacecraft traveling 90% of 'c' while the other twin stays on Earth. Which of the following is TRUE?

a)

The twin on the spacecraft will age more slowly than the Earth-bound sibling

b)

Time in each frame of reference proceeds differently at different speeds

c)

This is an example of the 'Twin Paradox'

d)

All answers are true

18.

The speed of light _________________.

a)

is constant in all frames of reference

b)

changes based on frame of reference

c)

speeds up even faster in different frames of reference

d)

stops when in different frames of reference

19.

Lachlan's spaceship takes a nonstop journey to a planet and returns in 10 hours according to a clock on the spaceship. If the speed of the spaceship is 0.80c, how much time has elapsed on the Earth?

a)

3.2h

b)

7.0h

c)

15h

d)

17h

20.

Relative motion can best be defined as

a)

the change in position of an object divided by change in time.

b)

the amount of motion that an object experiences over a given period of time.

c)

the motion of an object with a constant velocity.

d)

the motion of one object as it appears to another object.

21.

An observer notices that a clock moving with a speed of 0.650c advances 2.00 seconds. Is the corresponding elapsed time time on an identical clock at rest relative to the observer ____________ 2.00 seconds.

a)

greater than

b)

less than

c)

equal to

22.

A set of twins, Abbey and Angelina, are initially 10 years old. While Angelina remains on Earth, Abbey rides on a space ship which travels away from Earth at a speed of 0.6c for five years (as measured by Angelina), then turns around and comes back at 0.6c. When Abbey returns, Angelina is 20 years old. How old is Abbey upon her return?

a)

10

b)

12

c)

18

d)

20

23.

A set of twins, Abbey and Angelina, are initially 10 years old. While Angelina remains on Earth, Abbey rides on a space ship which travels away from Earth at a speed of 0.6c for five years (as measured by Angelina), then turns around and comes back at 0.6c. When Abbey returns, Angelina is 20 years old. How old is Abbey upon her return?

a)

10

b)

12

c)

18

d)

20

24.

At one point in time, two twins are 30 years old. At this time, one of them gets on a rocket and travels at 0.8 c, for what he experiences to be 12 years. How old is the twin that remained on Earth when the traveling twin returns home?

a)

20 years

b)

50 years

c)

40 years

d)

80 years

Special Relativity and Time Dilation Exercises

Total questions: 24

Worksheet time: 25mins

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