Past exam of the relativity course of the University of Cambridge 2022 Section B 6 b iii Solution 2026-10-18
The proper time normalization of the astronaut's four-velocity gives . In the light-cone coordinates this isThe four-acceleration has squared norm , because is the constant proper acceleration. The same coordinate change therefore givesEquivalently write , . Their second derivatives give , so the rapidity form of one-dimensional proper acceleration makes , with sign fixing the acceleration direction.