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VaccumEnergy
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Homework Statement
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1. Homework Statement
A spacecraft is prepared to visit α-Centauri, which is at the distance 4.37 light years from the Sun. Provisions for the crew are prepared for the duration of 16 years. How fast must the spacecraft travel for this provision to be enough?
Answer this question in two ways by considering:
(i) time dilation
(ii) length contraction. (The period of acceleration, dece- laration, turnaround and visit are neglected compared to the whole time of the travel)
Homework Equations
Time dilation:
t = gamma*t0, where t is the time from the Earths inertial frame and t0 is the 'proper time' i.e. time perceived from Earth on the rocket.
Length Contraction:
l=l0/gamma, where l is the length perceived from an inertial frame of a body moving with speed v relative to it of length l, l0 is length perceived when v = 0
gamma = 1/(1-v^2/c^2)^-1/2, v is relative velocity and c is speed of light.
The Attempt at a Solution
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I'm unsure how to begin this question, been stuck for almost an hour. Making me feel stupid, please helppppp