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IB · A · multiple choice

Space, time and motion · Question 6

Space, time and motion · Original GioPhysics question with a detailed, mark-by-mark answer guide.

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Marks
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Topics
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Answer
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multiple choice1 mark

A spacecraft travels past Earth at 0.60c. A clock on board measures a time interval of 2.0 s between two events that occur at the same place on the spacecraft. What is the interval between those events as measured from Earth?

  1. A

    1.2 s

  2. B

    1.6 s

  3. C

    2.5 s

  4. D

    3.3 s

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Answer overviewCorrect answer: C — 2.5 s
01

Answer and reasoning

1 mark
How to approach it

Predict from the governing principle before looking for a matching option. Then reject alternatives by checking direction, units, limiting behaviour or the physical meaning of each statement.

  1. 1

    The correct choice is C: 2.5 s

  2. 2

    A and B are shorter than the proper time, which no observer can measure — the proper time is always the shortest interval between two events, so the Earth reading must be larger. With γ = 1.25, the answer is 2.5 s.

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