Speed of Laser on Spaceship Traveling at 0.5c?

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In summary, the speed of light is always measured as c, regardless of the speed of the observer or the light source. This is a key principle of special relativity, and while the wavelength may appear different to observers on a spaceship moving at half the speed of light, the speed of the laser itself remains unchanged.
  • #1
andytran
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i'm jux wondering would a laser mounted on a spaceship traveling at half the speed of light... wouldn't this make the speed of the laser on the ship change to 1.5c??

thx
 
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  • #2
No. The speed of light is always locally measured to be c. This is the first postulate of special relativity.

- Warren
 
  • #3
People who see the spaceship moving at 0.5 times the speed of light would see the laser at a different (blue shifted) color that the people on the spaceship.
 
  • #4
but the observer still see the speed of the laser to be c.?
so the speed the stay the same, only the wavelength change according to the observer perspective??
 

1. What is the speed of a laser on a spaceship traveling at 0.5c?

The speed of a laser on a spaceship traveling at 0.5c would also be 0.5c, as the speed of light is constant and does not change with the speed of the source.

2. How is the speed of a laser affected by the spaceship's speed?

The speed of the laser is not affected by the spaceship's speed. This is because the speed of light is constant and does not change relative to the observer.

3. Will the speed of a laser on a spaceship traveling at 0.5c be faster or slower than the speed of light?

The speed of a laser on a spaceship traveling at 0.5c will be the same as the speed of light. The speed of light is the maximum speed possible and cannot be exceeded, regardless of the speed of the source.

4. How does the speed of a laser on a spaceship traveling at 0.5c compare to the speed of a laser on Earth?

The speed of a laser on a spaceship traveling at 0.5c will be the same as the speed of a laser on Earth, as the speed of light is constant and does not change with the observer's frame of reference.

5. Can the speed of a laser on a spaceship traveling at 0.5c be adjusted?

No, the speed of a laser on a spaceship traveling at 0.5c cannot be adjusted. The speed of light is a fundamental constant and cannot be changed by any means.

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