Special Relativity MCQs

Question 1

A moving clock, as measured by a stationary observer, runs:

Accepted Answer

slow

Answer

at the same rate

Answer

fast

Answer

backwards

Question 2

Einstein assumed that the speed of light in a vacuum is:

Accepted Answer

the same for all observers in inertial frames, whatever their motion

Answer

infinite

Answer

dependent on the source's speed

Answer

different for moving observers

Question 3

A significant consequence of Einstein's assumption is that:

Accepted Answer

space and time measurements depend on the observer's motion

Answer

time is the same for everyone

Answer

light travels faster from moving sources

Answer

mass is always constant

Question 4

An event in space-time is specified by:

Accepted Answer

three space coordinates and one time coordinate

Answer

one space coordinate only

Answer

three time coordinates

Answer

mass and charge

Question 5

A clock in a spaceship moving at 0.8c records 10 s (proper time). An Earth observer measures the interval as:

Accepted Answer

16.7 s

Answer

33.3 s

Answer

167 s

Answer

8.33 s

Question 6

Special relativity applies to:

Accepted Answer

inertial (non-accelerating) frames

Answer

only gravitational fields

Answer

only rotating frames

Answer

only sound

Question 7

Gravitational waves are ripples in:

Accepted Answer

space-time

Answer

electric fields

Answer

water

Answer

air

Question 8

In general relativity, gravity is explained as:

Accepted Answer

the curvature of space-time caused by mass and energy

Answer

magnetism

Answer

a push from the aether

Answer

a force carried by sound

Question 9

A body of rest mass 1 kg moves at 0.6c. Its relativistic mass is:

Accepted Answer

1.25 kg

Answer

2.5 kg

Answer

12.5 kg

Answer

0.625 kg

Question 10

The speed of light in a vacuum is about:

Accepted Answer

3.0 10^8 m/s

Answer

340 m/s

Answer

3.0 10^5 m/s

Answer

3.0 10^10 m/s

Question 11

The second postulate contradicts Newtonian addition of velocities because:

Accepted Answer

light's speed does not add to the source's speed

Answer

velocities never add

Answer

light has no speed

Answer

Newton ignored light

Question 12

As a body's speed approaches c, its relativistic mass:

Accepted Answer

increases without limit

Answer

decreases to zero

Answer

becomes negative

Answer

stays the same

Question 13

The rubber-sheet model of space-time is a:

Accepted Answer

simplified analogy, not a literal picture

Answer

law of motion

Answer

physical sheet in space

Answer

perfect description

Question 14

The energy equivalent of 5 10^-4 kg of mass is (c = 3 10^8 m/s):

Accepted Answer

4.5 10^13 J

Answer

2.25 10^13 J

Answer

1.5 10^5 J

Answer

9 10^13 J

Question 15

Relativistic effects are described by the Lorentz factor:

Accepted Answer

gamma = 1 1 - v^2/c^2

Answer

gamma = 1 - vc

Answer

gamma = 1 - v^2/c^2

Answer

gamma = vc

Special Relativity MCQs — Physics (page 4)

76. A moving clock, as measured by a stationary observer, runs:

77. Einstein assumed that the speed of light in a vacuum is:

78. A significant consequence of Einstein's assumption is that:

79. An event in space-time is specified by:

80. A clock in a spaceship moving at 0.8c records 10 s (proper time). An Earth observer measures the interval as:

81. Special relativity applies to:

82. Gravitational waves are ripples in:

83. In general relativity, gravity is explained as:

84. A body of rest mass 1 kg moves at 0.6c. Its relativistic mass is:

85. The speed of light in a vacuum is about:

86. The second postulate contradicts Newtonian addition of velocities because:

87. As a body's speed approaches c, its relativistic mass:

88. The rubber-sheet model of space-time is a:

89. The energy equivalent of 5 10^-4 kg of mass is (c = 3 10^8 m/s):

90. Relativistic effects are described by the Lorentz factor:

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