If astronauts could travel at 0.87 Alpha Centauri, 4.87 light yearsaway, we on E

Question

If astronauts could travel at 0.87 Alpha Centauri, 4.87 light yearsaway, we on Earth would say it takes t= 4.87 light years/ 0.87 =5.5977 years to reach Alpha Centauri. The astronautsdisagree.
A) How much time passes on the astronauts' clocks? Answer in units of light years (lt x yr).
B) What distance to Alpha Centauri do the astonautsmeasure? Answer in units of light years (lt x yr).
A) How much time passes on the astronauts' clocks? Answer in units of light years (lt x yr).
B) What distance to Alpha Centauri do the astonautsmeasure? Answer in units of light years (lt x yr).

Explanation / Answer

let me answer (B) first. for a speed of .87c, the gamma factor is = 1/(1-.87^2) = 2.02818 so, in astronaut's frame, he measures the distance as 4.87/ = 2.40 ly now to answer part (A). time in astronaut' frame = 2.40c/.87c = 2.76 y

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse I
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.