Traveling to Andromeda in 2 Months with a Spaceship

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    Andromeda Spaceship
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of traveling to Andromeda in two months using a hypothetical spaceship that can accelerate to the speed of light (c) within one month. It explores concepts of relativistic travel, time dilation, and the implications of such speeds on different frames of reference.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes that if a spaceship could accelerate to c in one month and decelerate in another month, the total travel time from their frame of reference would be two months.
  • Another participant counters that no material object can reach the speed of light, only approach it closely.
  • A suggestion is made to refer to "The Relativistic Rocket" for calculations and results related to relativistic travel.
  • A further clarification questions the frame of reference for the acceleration to c, noting that the time experienced by the ship would differ from that experienced on Earth.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the possibility of reaching the speed of light and the implications of relativistic effects on time experienced by different observers. No consensus is reached on the feasibility of the proposed travel scenario.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about the spaceship's capabilities, the definition of time in different frames of reference, and the unresolved nature of relativistic effects on time dilation.

LitleBang
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Suppose I have a spaceship that can accelerate to c in one month of acceleration/deceleration of month and I want to travel to Andromeda. From my frame of reference wouldn't my total travel time be two months?
 
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No material object can accelerate to c, it can only get close to c.
 
Last edited:
You may want to see The Relativistic Rocket [1] for details on how to calculate this and what the results are.

[1] http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/SR/rocket.html
 
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Suppose I have a spaceship that can accelerate to c in one month of acceleration
Assuming this means "very, very close to c": 1 month in which system? For the ship: then sure. For earth? Then the ship will experience even less time.
 

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