Question

a cube has a density of 2200 kg/m3 while at rest in the laboratory. what is the cube's density as measured by an experimenter in the laboratory as the cube moves through the laboratory at 85.0 % of the speed of light in a direction perpendicular to one of its faces?

Answer 1

The cube's density as measured by an experimenter in the laboratory remains at 2200 kg/m³, as special relativity does not predict a change in volume for objects moving at high velocities perpendicular to their motion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The density of a cube would remain unchanged regardless of its velocity through the laboratory.

According to the principles of special relativity, an object's mass increases as it moves closer to the speed of light. However, density is defined as mass per unit volume, and special relativity does not predict a change in the volume of objects moving at high velocity in the direction perpendicular to the motion.

Given that both mass and volume in the direction perpendicular to the motion are unaffected by such relativistic speeds, the density measured by an experimenter in the laboratory would still be 2200 kg/m³.