How to Calculate Time Required for 11 Light Years @ 0.9c

[doc.madani]

You are in a spacecraft that is traveling at 0.9c (according to the passenger), and you want to get to a planet that is 11 light years away. How long will it take to get to the planet ?

This may seem like a simple problem but it's been bugging me. I answered this question by using the simple time = distance / speed since the person is in the same frame of reference as the space craft, is this correct?

 

[tiny-tim]

Hi doc.madani!

You are in a spacecraft that is traveling at 0.9c (according to the passenger), and you want to get to a planet that is 11 light years away. How long will it take to get to the planet ?

The question isn't clear …

according to the passenger, the speed of the spacecraft is zero.

I'll guess it means, if the speed and distance as measured by a stationary observer are 09.c and 11 l-y, then how long on the passenger's clock does it take?

 

[doc.madani]

I was just quoting the exact question that I was given In a test :s however since the passenger is in the same frame of reference (inertial frame if reference) to the spacecraft you can simply use the time = distance over speed formula ?

 

[tiny-tim]

Yes, but if he got the 11 light-years from a standard Galactic Maritime Federation astro-chart (sorry, I don't have a link ), that'll be the distance in a stationary frame, and you need the distance in his frame.

 

[doc.madani]

Ok for arguments sake let's say it was 11 light years in his frame of reference :) your starting to scare me that there's more to the question than I anticipated :s lol that's ok

 

[tiny-tim]

Ok for arguments sake let's say it was 11 light years in his frame of reference :) your starting to scare me that there's more to the question than I anticipated :s lol that's ok

If it was 11 light years in his frame of reference, then yes, he can divide by the speed to get the time on his clock.

 

[doc.madani]

ohh :) good thank you very much tiny-tim for your help :D