PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Mechanics & Dynamical Systems · Relativity & Gravitation · The equivalence principle and gravity as geometry
Relativity and Gravitation, Ch Gravity as curved spacetime: redshift and local inertial frames
Problem
A spherical asteroid has mass M=3.00×1020 kg and radius R=300 km. Clock A sits on its surface; clock B is held at rest at r=900 km from the centre by station-keeping thrusters, on the same radial line. Both clocks are permanently at rest relative to the asteroid, which does not rotate. The potential outside the asteroid is Φ=−GM/r, zero at infinity, and all results are to be given to first order in Φ/c2. Take G=6.674×10−11Nm2kg−2, c=2.998×108ms−1 and 1 year =3.156×107 s.
((a)) Compute the fractional difference in rate between the two clocks, and say which runs faster.
((b)) Over one year, by how much do the two clocks drift apart?
((c)) Clock A drives a transmitter of frequency 1.00 GHz (measured at A). In one year of B's own proper time, how many fewer crests does B receive than A emits in one year of A's proper time? What would this number be if spacetime were flat and the configuration static?