Reaching Alpha Centauri in 100 Years: Calculating Speed & Magnitude

AI Thread Summary
To reach Alpha Centauri in 100 years, one must calculate the required speed by determining the distance in kilometers, which is approximately 4.36 light years, and converting that distance into kilometers. The necessary speed is calculated by dividing this distance by the total hours in 100 years. This speed significantly exceeds the capabilities of current spacecraft, which travel at around 50,000 km/hr. By dividing the calculated speed by the speed of current spacecraft, one can determine how many times faster the required speed is. Ultimately, reaching Alpha Centauri in a century demands speeds that are a substantial fraction of the speed of light.
lifeunderwate
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Suppose you wanted to reach Alpha Centauri in
100 years.
a. How fast would you have to go, in km/hr3
b. How many times faster is the speed you found in (a) than
the speeds ofour fastest current spacecraft (around
50,000 km/hr)?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
lifeunderwate said:
Suppose you wanted to reach Alpha Centauri in
100 years.
a. How fast would you have to go, in km/hr3
A.Centauri is how far away in light years?
How many km are in a light year?
Multiply and you'll get the distance to A.Centauri in km.

100 years is how many hours?

Speed (in km/hr) to A.Centauri = distance (in km) / time (in hours)


Speed is distance divided by time.

lifeunderwate said:
b. How many times faster is the speed you found in (a) than
the speeds ofour fastest current spacecraft (around
50,000 km/hr)?
Even easier.

You have a speed above, and this comparson speed. Pretty straightforward to divide one by the other.

Why do you need us?
 
Last edited:
Even easier. Take the distance to Alpha Centauri - 4.36 light years - and divide by 100 years. That's the fraction of lightspeed you want. Then multiply by the speed of light per hour. Since light moves at 299792458 m/s, by definition, I'll let you work out km/h...
 
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'

Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
View full post »

Thread 'Egg Drop Challenge! Need ideas for winning designs'

I was thinking using 2 purple mattress samples, and taping them together, I do want other ideas though, the main guidelines are; Must have a volume LESS than 1600 cubic centimeters, and CAN'T exceed 25 cm in ANY direction. Must be LESS than 1 kg. NO parachutes. NO glue or Tape can touch the egg. MUST be able to take egg out in less than 1 minute. Grade A large eggs will be used.
View full post »

Similar threads

How fast must a spaceship travel to reach Alpha Centauri in 10 years?
Replies
6
Views
2K
Writing: Input Wanted Some problem solving -- probe is traveling to Alpha centauri
Replies
23
Views
3K
How Fast Did My Friend Travel to Alpha Centauri and Back?
Replies
1
Views
2K
B Pale Red Dot Mission: Launching Probes to Alpha Centauri in 2030s
Replies
23
Views
3K
Did I Calculate the Speed of a Comet Correctly?
Replies
6
Views
3K
What speed is required for a 30-year journey to Alpha Centauri?
Replies
6
Views
3K
I How Will Nano Spacecraft Reach Alpha Centauri?
Replies
5
Views
1K
I Non-inertial reference frames question
Replies
34
Views
3K
Finding the relativistic speed of a spacecraft
Replies
2
Views
2K
I Relative Simultaneity: Comparing 2 Incompatible Calculation Methods
Replies
12
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top