Classical Electrodynamics PHY5347

HOMEWORK 15
(January 15, 2013)
Due on Thursday, February 7, 2013
PROBLEM 43
Three men (A,B, and C) are riding on a train; A is in front, B is in the middle, and
C is on the rear. A fourth man (O) is standing on the platform and sees the train
moving at a constant velocity v to the right. At the moment that B passes in front
of O, two light signals coming from A and C reach them at the very same instant.
(a) According to passenger B, who emitted the light signal rst (A or C)? Evaluate
quantitatively the dierence between the times of emission of the two ashes.
(b) According to the stationary observer O, who emitted the light signal rst (A
or C)? Evaluate quantitatively the dierence between the times of emission of
the two ashes. Using simple arguments explain the qualitative nature of your
answer.
PROBLEM 44
Consider the case of constant electric and magnetic elds given by the following simple
expressions:
E = E
0
y and B = B
0
z .
Assume without loss of generality that B
0
>E
0
>0.
(a) Can you nd a system of reference in which the magnetic eld vanishes? If so,
show explicitly the Lorentz transformation that accomplishes this and the value
of the electric eld in the new system of reference.
(b) Can you nd a system of reference in which the electric eld vanishes? If so,
show explicitly the Lorentz transformation that accomplishes this and the value
of the magnetic eld in the new system of reference.
PROBLEM 45
Consider a particle of charge q and mass m.
(a) Assume that the particle, initially at rest, is placed in a uniform electric eld
given by E= zE. Compute the velocity and position of the particle as a function
of time. Make a plot of your results and of those obtained in the non-relativistic
( 1) limit. Plot your results in units of t
0
=mc/qE.
(b) Assume that the particle is now placed in a uniform magnetic eld given by
B = zB. Compute the velocity and position of the particle as a function of
time. Assume the following initial conditions: x(0) =a, y(0) =v and y(0) =
z(0)= x(0)= z(0)=0.
(c) In the large hadron collider protons circulating in opposite directions within a
27 km ring will collide with an energy of 7 TeV each. Using the equations ob-
tained in part (b), estimate the magnitude of the magnetic eld that is required
to maintain the protons in such a circular orbit.