How Fast Is the Spaceship Traveling Relative to Earth in Terms of c?

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SUMMARY

The spaceship travels between two planets that are 491,000 km apart, with a trip duration of 1.10 seconds as measured by the ship's clocks. Using the time dilation equation, the correct calculation involves the Lorentz factor, where delta t is the proper time (1.10 s) and the distance is converted to meters (491,000 km = 491,000,000 m). The calculated speed of the spaceship is 4.7 x 106 m/s, which is equivalent to 0.015 times the speed of light (c).

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of special relativity concepts, particularly time dilation.
  • Familiarity with the Lorentz factor and its application in relativistic physics.
  • Ability to perform unit conversions, specifically from kilometers to meters.
  • Basic algebra skills for solving equations involving variables.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the Lorentz transformation equations in detail.
  • Learn about relativistic velocity addition to understand speeds approaching c.
  • Explore practical applications of time dilation in GPS technology.
  • Investigate the implications of special relativity on high-speed space travel.
USEFUL FOR

Students of physics, educators teaching special relativity, and anyone interested in the effects of high-speed travel on time and distance measurements.

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Homework Statement



As measured in Earth's frame of reference, two planets are 491,000 km apart. A spaceship flies from one planet to the other with a constant velocity, and the clocks on the ship show that the trip lasts only 1.10 s. How fast is the ship traveling? (Enter your answer to 4 significant figures and in terms of c.)

Homework Equations



I tried using the equation delta t=d/v and converting the km to m, but that seemed way to easy...and I got the wrong answer. Then I tried delta t=delta t o / sqrt(1-v^2/c^2), but I wasn't sure what to plug in for the variables. Assuming that I am now on the right path, would I put in 1.1 for delta t? Would I even need anything for delta t o ?
 
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What about for d, would I put in 491,000?The Attempt at a SolutionI tried delta t=delta t o / sqrt(1-v^2/c^2), with delta t o =1.1, d=491,000 and v unknown. Solving for v, I got 4.7*10^6 m/s. Converting to c, I got 0.015 c.
 

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