How Much Mass Converts to Energy to Accelerate the Enterprise to 0.1c?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on calculating the mass required to accelerate the fictional starship Enterprise, with a mass of approximately 5 x 109 kg, to 0.1c using the principle of mass-energy equivalence described by Einstein's equation E=mc2. The user initially struggled with the calculation but ultimately found that 2.5 x 107 kg of mass must be converted into kinetic energy to achieve this acceleration. This conclusion confirms the relationship between mass conversion and energy output in theoretical physics.

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  • Understanding of Einstein's mass-energy equivalence (E=mc2)
  • Basic knowledge of relativistic physics
  • Familiarity with the concept of kinetic energy
  • Ability to perform calculations involving large numbers and scientific notation
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  • Learn about the physics of antimatter and its potential uses in propulsion
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pinkerpikachu
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The fictional starship Enterprise obtains power by combining matter and antimatter, achieving complete conversion of mass into energy. If the mass of Enterprise is approximately 5 X 109 kg, how much mass must be converted into kinetic energy to accelerate it from rest to one tenth the speed of light?

of course, E=mc2 but I don't have the energy so I can't solve for m? What other ways can I approach this problem

the answer in the back of the book is 2.5 X 107 kg
 
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nevermind! totally solved my own problem!
 

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