Special relativity of a rocket

AI Thread Summary
To ensure astronauts age 12 years while Mission Control ages 130 years, the rocket must travel at approximately 0.9957 times the speed of light. This speed is derived from the time dilation equation, where the ratio of aging is calculated using the Lorentz factor. The discussion also seeks to determine the distance to the distant star as measured by Mission Control, requiring basic kinematics to relate speed, time, and distance. The conversion of light years to seconds is noted, but the exact distance calculation remains unresolved. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding relativistic effects in space travel.
vorcil
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1)
How fast must a rocket travel on a journey to and from a distant star so that the astronauts age 12.0 years while the Mission Control workers on Earth age 130 years ? c


2)
As measured by Mission Control, how far away is the distant star? in light years


my attempt
1)
Time in moving reference frame = (sqrt(1-beta))*time in inertial reference frame

12/130 = sqrt(1-beta)
12/130 ^2 = 1- beta
12/130^2 = Tn
tn = 1-beta
beta = 1-td
beta = v^2/c^2

converting light years to seconds (1ly = 31556296 seconds)
((12*31556926) / (130*31556926))^2 = 8.520*10^-3
1-(8.520*10^-3) = 0.99147 = beta
v^2/c^2 = 0.99147
sqrt(0.99147*c^2) = v
v/c = 0.9957 c which is 0.9957 as a fraction of the speed of light that the rocket has to be traveling
this was correct

2)
not quite sure how to solve the next one
 
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vorcil said:
my attempt
1)
Time in moving reference frame = (sqrt(1-beta))*time in inertial reference frame

12/130 = sqrt(1-beta)
12/130 ^2 = 1- beta
12/130^2 = Tn
tn = 1-beta
beta = 1-td
beta = v^2/c^2

converting light years to seconds (1ly = 31556296 seconds)
((12*31556926) / (130*31556926))^2 = 8.520*10^-3
1-(8.520*10^-3) = 0.99147 = beta
v^2/c^2 = 0.99147
sqrt(0.99147*c^2) = v
v/c = 0.9957 c which is 0.9957 as a fraction of the speed of light that the rocket has to be traveling
this was correct
Good. Note on terminology: Beta usually stands for v/c, not v^2/c^2.

2)
not quite sure how to solve the next one
According to Mission Control, how fast was the rocket moving and how long did it take to reach its destination? (Use basic kinematics.)
 
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