Closing distances at rates greater than c

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the calculation of meeting time for two spaceships traveling towards each other at 0.6c each, from the observer's rest frame. The closure rate is incorrectly assumed to be 1.2c, which violates the principles of special relativity. Instead, the correct approach involves using the relativistic velocity addition formula to determine the effective speed at which the two ships are closing in on each other. This ensures that the calculated speed does not exceed the speed of light, c.

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clm222
Hi, I just have a brief, logistical question.

If I have, say, two spaceships traveling towards each other at 0.6c each (from my rest frame), can I calculate the meeting time in my rest frame as the distance divided by 1.2c? I'm not saying either ship is actually going this speed, just that the distance is being closed at this rate of 1.2c.

Is this reasoning valid? If not, how do I calculate the time for these two to meet?
 
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Yes. Each ship will, as you say, see the other moving at less than c. But you measure the closure rate to be 1.2c.
 

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