Past exam of the symmetry and relativity course of the University of Oxford / 2017 / 1 / c / Solution

There is no nonzero, literally constant four-force that is a pure force throughout this motion. Initially $U=(c,0,0,0)$, so purity forces $F^0=0$. If the full four-vector were constant, $U(\tau )=U(0)+F\tau /M_0$; its square would be $c^2+F^2{\tau }^2/M_0^2$, which cannot remain $c^2$ for a nonzero initially spatial $F$. This is a genuine ambiguity in the source wording.

The usual consistent interpretation is constant laboratory relativistic force $f=d{p}_x/dt$, equivalently constant one-dimensional proper acceleration $f/M_0$. Take $f>0$ and let $s=ft/(M_{0}c)$. Integrating momentum conservation with the applied impulse gives $p_x=ft$, soThe corresponding four-force has components $F^{\mu }=\gamma f(\beta ,1,0,0)$, which are not constant, although its invariant magnitude is $F^2=-f^2$. Its temporal component is indeed $F^0=(\gamma /c)dE/dt$. The speed rises from zero and approaches $c$ asymptotically; $\gamma$ starts at one, initially rises quadratically and becomes linear in $t$ at late times.

If instead only the spatial four-force component $F^x=f_x$ is held constant, the distinct consistent answer is most simply parametrized by $u=f_x\tau /(M_{0}c)$:This follows by integrating $d{U}^x/d\tau =f_x/M_0$ and $dt/d\tau =U^0/c$. The temporal component must still vary. These two interpretations must not be conflated with a constant four-vector.