Speed of ship as fraction of speed of light

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

In the discussion, a homework problem involves calculating the speed of a spaceship traveling to the star Vega, which is 25.3 light years away, as a fraction of the speed of light. The participant initially miscalculated the speed, arriving at a value four times the speed of light, which is impossible according to the principles of special relativity. The correct approach involves understanding time dilation and the differences in time passage between the spaceship and Earth. After revisiting the calculations and applying the concept of spacetime intervals, the participant successfully found the correct answer.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of special relativity principles
  • Knowledge of time dilation effects
  • Familiarity with spacetime intervals
  • Basic skills in unit conversion (light years to meters, years to seconds)
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the concept of time dilation in special relativity
  • Learn how to calculate spacetime intervals
  • Review the Lorentz transformation equations
  • Explore practical applications of relativistic speeds in astrophysics
USEFUL FOR

Students studying physics, particularly those focusing on relativity, as well as educators looking for examples of common misconceptions in speed calculations related to light and time.

Dannya
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Jane gets in her spaceship on her twenty-fifth birthday and flies to the star Vega at a constant velocity v. She is just turning age 31 when she reaches the Vega system.

What is the speed of her ship, as a fraction of the speed of light c?

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I have attempted this 7 times. I have 3 chances left. I found out that the distance to Vega to be 25.3 Light years and i converted that to meters and then i converted 6 years to seconds and I still could not get the right answer. I have to express the answer as a fraction of the speed of light, but i continue to get a value that is 4x the speed of light. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Yes, look up time dilation. 4x speed of light is not an option. This course does have some content about special relativity, right? The rate of passage of time on the ship is not the same as in the rest frame of Earth and Vega.
 
i had originally did the space time interval but now that i looked back at it i did have a miscalculation. Thanks for the help! got the right answer.
 

Similar threads

How Long for a Beam of Light to Reach Earth?
  • · Replies 21 ·
Replies
21
Views
2K
How to determine if the space ship is moving or stopped?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Maximum mass value possible to fuel a spaceship
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
How Does Time Dilation Affect Communication and Aging in Space Travel?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
5K
Undergrad For a relativistic spaceship, what is the most recent news the ship gets from Earth?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Relativity Questions and Frames (How fast....)
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Relativistic Addition of Velocities
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Fizeau's Experiment (Speed of light)
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
5K
Undergrad Bell's Spaceship Paradox, Born Rigidity, and the 1-Way Speed of Light
  • · Replies 47 ·
2
Replies
47
Views
5K
Variation of EM radiation with frequency
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K