Notes on Relativity and Cosmology - Physics Department, UCSB

1.8. HOMEWORK PROBLEMS 41
Floor
Ceiling
Note: Your answer should consist of a single diagram for each part below.
a) The rocket engines are off. You are holding on to the ceiling (as shown
below) and then let go at t = 0. Draw the diagram using an inertial
frame that is at rest (not moving) relative to you before you let go.
b) As in (a), but this time you push yourself away from the ceiling as you
let go.
c) This time, the rocket engines are on (the whole time, including the time
before t = 0). You are holding on to the ceiling and let go at t = 0.
Draw the diagram using an inertial frame that is at rest relative to you
at the instant 5 just before you let go.
d) As in (c), but use the reference frame of the rocket.
e) As in (c), again using an inertial frame, but now suppose that you push
yourself away from the ceiling as you let go.
f) In which of the above is your frame of reference inertial during the
entire time shown on your diagram?
x
5 If something is at rest relative to you at some instant, it has the same velocity as you do
at that instant, but its acceleration may differ.