Inquiry into Physics
Inquiry into Physics
8th Edition
ISBN: 9781337515863
Author: Ostdiek
Publisher: Cengage
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Chapter 1, Problem 1CA

The original “clock” used to define the length of the second was the daily rotation of Earth about its axis. Why has this clock been replaced by one based on the oscillation period of light waves emitted by atoms like cesium and rubidium?

Expert Solution & Answer
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To determine

The reason clocks based on the daily rotation has been replaced by the oscillation period of light waves emitted by atoms like cesium and rubidium.

Answer to Problem 1CA

The time period of the earth’s rotation is not fixed and to have a proper clock, it requires giving error free time period which is not possible. Hence, it is replaced by the oscillation period of light waves emitted by atoms like cesium and rubidium. The oscillation period of light waves emitted by atoms is fixed. Hence, the clock will give error free time.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The earth’s rotation period is four minutes less than what we call a day. Due to this, the Sun’s position in the sky at noon is roughly fixed, but the stars slowly drift apart. So, the stars which are overhead today will slowly move in the sky until they will be overhead at noon 6 months apart.

If instead, a day was defined to be the time taken for earth to rotate, then according to above stated reason, the sun will be overhead on some day at midnight. The time period for oscillation of light waves emitted by the atoms of cesium and rubidium is always fixed. Hence, they will always give error free time period forever.

Conclusion:

The time given by the earth’s rotation won’t be same everyday as the earth’s rotation speed is not fixed. Hence, the clocks based on it will give wrong time. Hence, we use clocks based on the oscillations of light waves emitted by atoms like cesium and rubidium.

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Chapter 1 Solutions

Inquiry into Physics

Ch. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - Prob. 11QCh. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - Prob. 15QCh. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - Prob. 17QCh. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - (Indicates a review question, which means it...Ch. 1 - Prob. 24QCh. 1 - Prob. 25QCh. 1 - Prob. 26QCh. 1 - Prob. 27QCh. 1 - A yacht is 20 m long. Express this length in feet.Ch. 1 - Prob. 2PCh. 1 - A convenient time unit for short time intervals is...Ch. 1 - One mile is equal to 1,609 m. Express this...Ch. 1 - A hypnotist, watch hanging from a chain swings...Ch. 1 - The quartz crystal used in an electric watch...Ch. 1 - A passenger jet flies from one airport to another...Ch. 1 - At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, U.S....Ch. 1 - A runner in a marathon passes the 5-mile mark at 1...Ch. 1 - . The Moon is about 3.8 ×108 m from Earth....Ch. 1 - . In Figure 1.13, assume that m/s and m/s. Use a...Ch. 1 - . On a day when the wind is blowing toward the...Ch. 1 - . How far does a car going 25 m/s travel in 5 s?...Ch. 1 - . A long-distance runner has an average speed of 4...Ch. 1 - . Draw an accurate graph showing distance versus...Ch. 1 - The graph in Figure 1.38 shows the distance versus...Ch. 1 - . A high-performance sports car can go from 0 to...Ch. 1 - . As a baseball is being thrown it goes from 0 to...Ch. 1 - . A child attaches a rubber ball to string and...Ch. 1 - . A child sits on the edge of spinning...Ch. 1 - . A runner is going 10 m/s around a curved section...Ch. 1 - During a NASCAR race, a car goes 50 m/s around a...Ch. 1 - . A rocket accelerates from rest at a rate of 64...Ch. 1 - . Initially staionary, a train has a constant...Ch. 1 - . (a) Draw an accurate graph of the speed versus...Ch. 1 - . Draw an accurate graph of the velocity versus...Ch. 1 - . A skydiver jumps out of a helicopter and falls...Ch. 1 - . A rock is dropped off the side of a bridge and...Ch. 1 - . The roller coaster in Figure 1.39 starts at the...Ch. 1 - . During takeoff, an airplane goes from 0 to 50...Ch. 1 - Prob. 31PCh. 1 - . A bungee jumper falls for 1.3 s before the...Ch. 1 - . A drag-racing car goes from 0 to 300 mph in 5 s....Ch. 1 - Prob. 1CCh. 1 - The Moon's mass is 7.35 1022 kg, and it moves in a...Ch. 1 - A car is stopped at a red light. When the light...Ch. 1 - A spoils car is advertised to have a maximum...Ch. 1 - A spacecraft lands on a newly discovered planet...Ch. 1 - Prob. 6CCh. 1 - Prob. 7CCh. 1 - A race car starts from rest on a circular track...Ch. 1 - Prob. 9C
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