PH 206: Electromagnetic Theory

Homework 8 (Special Theory of Relativity)

1. Prove the invariance of the electromagnetic wave equation in relativity by showing that the corre-

sponding differential operator is an invariant. That is show that

∂2 ∂2 ∂2 1 ∂2 ∂2 ∂2 ∂2 1 ∂2
+ 2+ 2− 2 2 = ′2 + ′2 + ′2 −
∂x2 ∂y ∂z c ∂t ∂x ∂y ∂z c2 ∂t′ 2

when the spacetime variables are related by Lorentz transformations.

Also show that the proper time, given as

p
dτ = dt 1 − β 2

is an invariant quantity with respect to a Lorentz transformation.

2. Derive the relativistic acceleration transformation

3
v2 2
′ ax (1 − c2 )
ax = ux v 3
(1 − c2 )

3. A on earth, signals with a flashlight every six minutes. B is on a space station that is stationary

with respect to the earth . C is on a rocket traveling from A to B with a constant velocity of 0.6c

relative to A. (a) At what intervals does B receive the signals from A?(c) If C flashes a light using

intervals equal to those he received from A , at what intervals does B receive C’s flashes?

′
4. Inertial system S moves at a constant velocity v = βc(cos ϕx̂ + sin ϕŷ)with respect to S.Their axes
′
are parallel to one another at t = t = 0,as usual.Find the Lorentz transformation matrix.

5. One cosmic-ray particle approaches the earth along its axis with a velocity 0.8c towards the North

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 Pole and another with a velocity 0.6c toward the South Pole . What is the relative speed of approach

of one particle with respect to the other?

6. (a) Prove that if u/c << 1 , the kinetic energy K of a moving particle will always be much less

than its rest energy m0 c2 .

(b) Derive the relation K = (m - mo )c2 for motion in three dimensions, where K is the Kinetic

energy of a particle.

7. The quantity c2 t2 − (x2 + y 2 + z 2 ) of an event is an invariant (the same for all observers) equal to

c2 τ 2 , where τ is the proper time. That is, c2 t2 − (x2 + y 2 + z 2 ) = c′2 t′2 − (x′2 + y ′2 + z ′2 ) = c2 τ 2 .

Show that, analogously, the quantity E 2 /c2 − (px 2 + py 2 + pz 2 ) for a particle is an invariant equal

to m0 2 /c2 .

8. An excited atom of mass m, initially at rest in frame S, emits a photon and recoils. The internal

energy of the atom decreases by ∆E and the energy of the photon is hν. Show that hν = ∆E (l -

∆E/2mc2 ).

9. (a) A body of mass m at rest breaks up spontaneously into two parts, having rest masses m1 and m2

and respective speeds v1 and v2 . Show that m > m1 + m2 , using conservation of mass-energy.

(b) A body of rest mass m0 , travelling, initially at a speed 0.6c, makes a completely inelastic

collision with an identical body initially at rest. (i) What is the speed of the resulting single

body? (ii) What is its rest mass?

10. Show that the (ordinary) acceleration of a particle of mass m and charge q, moving at velocity u

under the influence of electromagnetic fields E and B, is given by

 
qp 1
a= 1 − u2 /c2 E + u × B − 2 u(u.E)
m c

2
 You can use the following equation to start with,

 
m u(u.a)
F= p a+ 2
1 − u2 /c2 c − u2

du
Here, a ≡ dt (ordinary acceleration)

11. (a) Show that

E 2 − c2 B 2

is an invariant quantity under a Lorentz transformation. Then argue that, if E = cB in one

inertial frame, E’ = cB’ in any other inertial frame, and that if E > cB in one inertial frame,

then E’ > cB’ in any other inertial frame.

(b) Show that E.B is an invariant quantity under a Lorentz transformation. Then argue that if

the electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to one another in one inertial frame, they are

perpendicular in all frames.

12. (a) Evaluate the invariants

E 2 − c2 B 2

and E.B for a plane electromagnetic wave in vacuum.

(b) Show that plane waves in one inertial frame transform to plane waves in another inertial frame.

13. Show using the following two equations.

u×E
B= c2
qγr
E= 4πε0 (γ 2 x2 +y 2 +z 2 )3/2

that (a)
qu × r
B= 3/2
4πε0 c2 γ 2 r3 [1 − (u2 /c2 )sin2 θ]
√
and that (b), in the limit of low speeds, this expression (using c = 1/ µ0 ε0 ) reduces to the Biot-

Savart law,
µ0 qu × r
B=
4π r3

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14. A parallel -plate capacitor ,at rest in S0 and tilted at a 450 angle to the x0 axis, carries charge

densities ±σ0 on the two plates .System S is moving to the right at speed v relative to S0 .

(a) Find E0 ,the field in S0

(b) Find E , the field in S.

(c) What angle do the plates make with the x axis.

(d) Is the field perpendicular to the plates in S

′
15. An ideal magnetic dipole moment m is located at the origin of an inertial system S that moves
′
with speed v in the x direction with respect to inertial system S. In S the vector potential is

′ ′
′ µ0 m × r̂
A =
4π r′ 2

′
and the scalar potential V is zero.

(a) Find the scalar potential V in S.

(b) In the nonrelativistic limit,show that the scalar potential in S is that of an ideal electric dipole

of magnitude

v×m
p=
c2

′
located at O

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16. A charge q is released from rest at the origin , in the presence of a uniform electric field E = Eo ẑ

and a uniform magnetic field B = B0 x̂. Determine the trajectory of the particle by transforming to

a system in which E = 0,finding the path in that system and then transforming back to the original

system.Assume E0 < cB0 .