Help Calculating a interstellar Speed requirements

In summary, the conversation discussed calculating the speed required for Object X to travel a certain distance in a certain amount of time. The time range given was 0.0001 microseconds and the distance to be cleared was 28,163,529 kilometers. The question was also looking for the speed in factors of light speed. Some suggested answers were 938 billion times light speed and 9.3 trillion times light speed, but the correct value is 0.00000000001 or 1e-11. To calculate the speed, one can divide the distance by time and then compare it to the speed of light.
  • #1
ScathanApprover
2
0
Hello everyone, what a fantastic community this is. I was hoping someone here could help me calculate the speed required to reach a certain distance in a certain amount of time.

How fast will Object X be moving if it clears 28,163,529 kilometers in 0.0001 microseconds. We are looking for the speed calculated in factors of light speed. So basically, how many times light speed will Object X be required to travel to clear 28,163,529KM in 0.0001 of a microsecond.

The time range is whatever 0.0001 of a microsecond actually is. I am told the correct value of this is 0.00000000001 but I am not sure. Any help on this question is immensely appreciated.
 
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  • #2
I moved the thread to our homework section as it is similar to a homework problem.
You can't go faster than the speed of light in our universe, but ignoring that:

1 microsecond = 0.001 milliseconds = 0.000 001 seconds.
0.000 1 microseconds = 0.000 1 * 0.000 001 seconds.
Spaces added to help counting zeros.
 
  • #3
Appreciated! the result was 1e-11 which is 0.00000000001 or my original value

So now I need to know how fast the object moves to reach that distance in 0.00000000001

I ask because I'm getting different answers and a few people offered different answers, some said it was 938 billion times light speed, another said it was 9.3 trillion or so rounded down.
 
  • #4
10-4 * 10-6 is 10-10.

To find the speed, just divide distance by time. Then divide by the speed of light to compare it to that. All those steps can be done by a calculator, or use WolframAlpha, then you can directly work with units.
 

1. What is interstellar speed and why is it important?

Interstellar speed refers to the velocity required to travel between stars in a galaxy. It is important because it determines the amount of time it will take for spacecraft to reach their destination and the amount of energy needed for the journey.

2. How is interstellar speed calculated?

Interstellar speed is calculated using the formula v = √(2GM/r), where v is the velocity, G is the gravitational constant, M is the mass of the star, and r is the distance between the stars. This formula takes into account the gravitational pull of the stars and the distance between them.

3. Can we achieve interstellar speed with current technology?

As of now, we do not have the technology to achieve interstellar speed. The fastest manned spacecraft, the Apollo 10, reached a speed of 11.08 km/s, which is only 0.0037% of the speed of light. However, scientists are constantly researching and developing new propulsion systems that could potentially achieve interstellar speed in the future.

4. What are the challenges of achieving interstellar speed?

One of the main challenges of achieving interstellar speed is the immense amount of energy required. The fuel needed to reach such high speeds would be massive and difficult to carry on a spacecraft. Additionally, there are also technological challenges in developing propulsion systems that can sustain high speeds for long periods of time.

5. What are the potential benefits of interstellar travel?

Interstellar travel would allow us to explore and potentially colonize other planets and star systems, expanding our understanding of the universe and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. It could also open up new opportunities for resource mining and scientific research. However, it is important to consider the ethical and environmental implications of interstellar travel before pursuing it.

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