Satellite travelling away from Earth

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SUMMARY

A satellite traveling away from Earth at a constant acceleration, starting at 20% the speed of light and increasing by 2% per hour until reaching 90% the speed of light, will experience delays in data transmission due to relativistic effects. As the satellite accelerates, the frequency of the temperature data pulses sent back to Earth will be affected by the relativistic Doppler effect, causing additional delays beyond the one-second intervals. Once the satellite reaches a constant speed, the data transmission will stabilize, but the initial acceleration phase introduces significant complexities in signal reception.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of relativistic physics, particularly the effects of acceleration on signal transmission.
  • Familiarity with the concept of the speed of light as a universal constant.
  • Knowledge of the relativistic Doppler effect and its implications for frequency shifts.
  • Basic principles of satellite communication and data transmission.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the principles of relativistic Doppler effect in detail.
  • Explore the impact of acceleration on signal transmission in physics.
  • Study satellite communication technologies and their limitations at high velocities.
  • Learn about the effects of time dilation in special relativity on data transmission.
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, aerospace engineers, and students studying relativity and satellite communications will benefit from this discussion, particularly those interested in the implications of high-speed travel on data transmission.

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Homework Statement



If a satellite was traveling away from Earth at a constant rate of acceleration, starting at 20% speed of light, and increasing by 2% speed of light per hour until it reached 90% speed of light, sending temperature data back at intervals of one second, how would it be received on Earth?

While accelerating, would it be received on every second? Or would their be an additional delay between each pulse because of the acceleration and velocity? What happens when the satellite reaches a constant speed?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



If a train is coming towards you, the sound waves are closer together than if the train was speeding away from you. I don't know if this can also be observed with pulses of information traveling at the speed of light.

My guess is that you would have to have some additional delay to the one second pulses because of the acceleration, but I really don't know if the light behaves in the same manner.
 
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You may want to think (or read) about relativistic Doppler.
 
Filip Larsen said:
You may want to think (or read) about relativistic Doppler.

That is very helpful, thank you
 

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