- #1
vmr101
Gold Member
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Homework Statement
An observer measures an object moving away at speed v=0,75, an observer on that object measures another object moving away in the same direction with the same speed relative to it and this is repeated n times. Find the velocity of the n'th object relative to the first.
I didnt post in the physics section, as its just the maths that is the tricky part. Showing this formula for n objects, when each object relies on the same equation for the previous object etc.
Homework Equations
w = u+v / (1 + uv) derived from k calculus
The Attempt at a Solution
I have understand and have sorted out the physics in this, but am unsure of how to show the answer mathematically. For large n, g => 1.
g = (a+b) / (1+ab) , where g) is the velocity of the n'th object relative to the original observer.
b) is the velocity of the last (n'th) object relative to the previous, a) is the previous object velocity relative to the one before it, all the way back to the original.
In a few steps I keep subbing in this equation into it self, and while I can show it works for small n, It am unsure of how to show this mathematically for large n.