What type of information is available to scientists through a Global Positioning System (GPS) device?

Space-time metric ds2= -dt2+at2dx2+bt2dy2+ct2dz2 (a)how does the area of a rectangle with vertices at ( x=0, y=0, z=0 ), (1,0,0 ), ( 0,1,0 ) and (1,1,0 ) changes with time? (b) if a photon moving in the x direction starts from the origin at t=1, when does it reach x=l? (ds=0 for the trajectory of a photon.) (c) the proper time for a particle is defined by cd=ds. what is the proper time for a particle to move along the trajectory ( x(t)=t, y(t)=0, z(t)=0 ) from t=0 to 1 ? what is the condition on the parameter a so that the velocity of the particle never exceeds the speed of light ?

You notice a very one-dimensional-thinking snail crawling along one rail of a railroad track. naturally, you remove it to a safer place. but before you do, you observe it as it moves from position xi = -92.9 cm to position xf = -64.9 cm along the rail, as measured from a point where one rail abuts the next. what is the snail\'s displacement δx in centimeters?

Figure 9 on page 362 shows various motions of balls. the curved path followed by the yellow ball in b in picture b is result of a) inertia b) centripetal motion c) gravity and horizontal velocity d) linear motion