- #1
natxio
- 7
- 0
Homework Statement
The dimensions of your friend’s spaceship are 100 meters in length, with a cabin width of 20
meters (i.e., you could approximate the main body of the ship as a cylinder with length 100
meters and diameter 20 meters). However, since your friend’s spaceship is speeding past you
at a relativistic velocity, you observe it to be highly foreshortened, with identical length and
width. At what speed is your friend traveling past you? Express your answer in units of the
speed of light.
Homework Equations
length contraction equation:
Lmoving= Lrest x [ 1- v^2/ c^2] ^1/2
The Attempt at a Solution
Lmoving= Lrest x [ 1- v^2/ c^2] ^1/2
solve for velocity --> v= c x [ 1- Lmoving^2/ Lrest^2] ^1/2
v= c x [ 1- 100m^2/ 100m^2] ^1/2
v= c x [ 1-1] ^1/2
v= c x [0] ^1/2
v= 0c
I don't know if I did this right, I don't know if I was supposed to include the width somewhere in here but if any of you guys can help me I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!