Relativistic Dynamics

1
Relativistic Dynamics

• Chintan Hossain

MIT Junior Lab November 22, 2004
2
Background and Context

• Newtons classical mechanics is inconsistent with
  Maxwells electrodynamics
• Speed of light changes with reference frame
• 1905 Einstein publishes theory of relativity
• Speed of light same in all reference frames
• Different laws of motion for each theory

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Classical and Relativistic Relations
Classical
Relativistic
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Experimental Apparatus
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Calibration of MCA
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Raw Data
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Count Rate vs. Voltage
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Kinetic Energy vs. Velocity
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Final Results

• Fit of K vs. v data to classical and relativistic
  models
• Classical model X267.6
• Relativistic model X21.90
• Shows strong support for relativistic model
• mc2 525 22 keV

10
Sources of Error

• Energy calibration error
• Non-uniformity of magnetic field
• Random Poisson error
• Error in magnetic field measurement

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Conclusion

• Energy vs. velocity data fits classical model
  with X267.6 and relativistic model with X21.90
• mc2 525 22 keV
• Supports relativistic model
• Improvements to experiment
• Take measurements for more time
• Improve magnetic field measurements