Accelerating to a stop in the Milky Way Galaxy

[Dang3rmouse]

TL;DR Summary

Travelling around the galaxy at zero mph

If the sun is traveling around the center of the Milky Way at a speed of 536,865 mph and we are tagging along with it, couldn’t a spacecraft travel to another solar system by stopping?

Would it be possible currently to slow down from that speed to 0 mph?

And lastly, why does physics make my brain hurt
Thanks

 

[Vanadium 50]

Sure. How much force does it take to "stop" it?

 

[Dang3rmouse]

The same as it would take to accelerate to 536,865 mph?

 

[kuruman]

And lastly, why does physics make my brain hurt

I am guessing that it hurts because there is too much physics pressure from the outside. Perhaps you should put more physics in your brain to equalize the pressure and ease the pain. If that doesn't work, please see a brain specialist because the source of your pain could be something other than physics.

 

[Baluncore]

Travelling around the galaxy at zero mph

Stop the world ! You want to get off ?
536,865 mph is only a trivial 240 km per second.
You will be waiting an eternity for the next one.

 

[jbriggs444]

The same as it would take to accelerate to 536,865 mph?

Yes. Stopping is just as hard as speeding up when there is nothing to grab on to. That is, more or less, the principle of relativity.

 

[PeroK]

Stop the world ! You want to get off ?
536,865 mph is only a trivial 240 km per second.
You will be waiting an eternity for the next one.

The speed of light is about $300,000$ km per second, so the Sun takes about $1,250$ years to travel a light year relative to the galactic frame of reference. So, yes, it would be a long time until the next star comes past.

 

[Orodruin]

The basic point here is: There is no real benefit in "stopping" relative to the galactic center over traveling by going in any other direction since the stars in our neighbourhood also orbit the galactic center.

 

[Orodruin]

I am guessing that it hurts because there is too much physics pressure from the outside. Perhaps you should put more physics in your brain to equalize the pressure and ease the pain. If that doesn't work, please see a brain specialist because the source of your pain could be something other than physics.

I'm saving this for that moment in the future when one of my students complain about a headache from the subject.