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wilson_chem90
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Homework Statement
A 30 year old femal astronaut leaves her newborn child on Earth and goes on a round-trip voyage at a star that is 40 light-years away in a spaceship traveling at 0.90 c. What will be the ages of the astronaut and her son when she returns?
Homework Equations
t = to / {1 - v^2/c^2} ( { } = Square Root)
The Attempt at a Solution
Since its 40 light years away traveling at .90 c. That means it'll take 48 years for the whole trip. ( 0.20 x 40 light years + 40 = 48 years)
to = t {1 - v^2/c^2}
= 48 years { 1 - (0.90c)^2/c^2}
= 48 years(0.43589)
= 20.923 years
Therefore, the mother will have aged approx. 21 years, making her 51 years old when she returns and her son will have aged 48 years, making him 48 years old when his mother returns.
I'm not entirely sure if this is correct. Hopefully it is...