How Can Relativistic Space Travel Affect Aging and Distance Measurements?

In summary, the conversation discusses various problems related to special relativity and space travel, including calculating the required speed of a spaceship for a roundtrip to a Galactic Base, determining the duration of the trip according to Earth's clocks, finding the minimum speed required for the captain of the spaceship to age the same as her twin sister on Earth, calculating the distance from Earth to the Galactic Base from the ship's perspective, determining the proper length of the ship at a certain speed, and solving problems involving two ships in motion. These problems require knowledge of special relativity and its concepts, such as time dilation and length contraction.
  • #1
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1. A 1000m long and 200m wide (when at rest) spaceship equipped with a chronometer is sent on a roundtrip
to their Galactic Base, 8 light years away.
(a) Astronauts start the trip after celebrating their captains 29th birthday and they want to make a round
trip and return to Earth on the eve of the captains 30th birthday. The ship travels with a constant velocity.
Calculate the required speed of the spaceship.
(b) According to the clocks on Earth, how long does this trip take?
(c) At which speed the age difference between the captain of the spaceship and her twin sister staying on
Earth will be minimal when the spaceship returns to Earth?
(d) How large is the distance from Earth to Galactic Base from the ships point of view (when the ship is at
the beginning of its journey but its speed is already equals the minimum speed calculated above)?
(e) Calculate the proper length of the ship when the speed of the ship is 0.5 c relative to Earth.
(f) Calculate the length and the width of the ship in a reference frame where the velocity of the ship is
directed from its tail to head and the speed is 0.5 c.

2. When traveling in space, a ship (length 1000m in its rest frame) passes an identical ship, which is at rest
relative to Earth. The captain of the moving ship decides to measure the speed of her ship. She looks out of
a window and uses her clock to measure the time between the moments when the head and the tail of the
other ship pass. The result of the measurement is 1 ìs. Calculate the speed of the “moving” ship relative to
Earth.

3. Two ships start simultaneously from Earth and move in directions, which are orthogonal to each other and
with equal velocities of 0.8 c. Calculate the distance between the ships as function of time in the rest frame
of one of the ships.

4. Two ships are moving toward each other with velocity of 0.7 c. At time zero in reference frame (reference
frame of Earth), Ship 1 nearly collides with Earth and Ship 2 is at the distance of 105 km from Earth.
(a)How long does it take according to the clock on Earth before the ships collide? What are the coordinates
of each ship at the collision?
(b)The clock in reference frame where Ship 1 is always at origin and at rest is set to zero when Ship 1 nearly
collides with Earth. What will the clock in show when the two ships collide?
(c)Calculate the distance between the two ships in when the Ship nearly collides with Earth.
(d)The distance to the other ship divided by the time until the collision (all measured in the reference frame
of Ship 1) gives the relative velocity of the two ships. Calculate the relative velocity and comment on the
value.
 
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  • #2


You've listed 4 problems with innumerable "subproblems" and given no indication that you have tried anything on this yourself. Surely you don't expect people to do your homework for you!
 
  • #3


Most of those problems look like straightforward special relativity problems.
 
  • #4
These are all problems in relativistic kinematics, not momentum.

You must show your work to get help. Please review our posting rules, which are linked at the top of every page, and the https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=94379".
 
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  • #5

Related to How Can Relativistic Space Travel Affect Aging and Distance Measurements?

1. How does Relativity affect space travel?

Relativity plays a significant role in space travel as it explains how time and space are interconnected. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, the closer an object travels to the speed of light, the slower time will pass for that object. This means that time dilation occurs, making time pass slower for astronauts traveling at high speeds.

2. What is the maximum speed that can be achieved in Relativistic space travel?

The maximum speed that can be achieved in Relativistic space travel is the speed of light, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. This speed is a fundamental limit and cannot be exceeded, as it would require an infinite amount of energy.

3. How long would it take to travel to a distant star using Relativistic space travel?

The time it would take to travel to a distant star using Relativistic space travel would depend on the distance to the star and the speed at which the spacecraft is traveling. However, even traveling at the speed of light, it would take several years to reach the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, which is 4.2 light-years away.

4. Can humans survive the effects of Relativistic space travel?

While it is theoretically possible for humans to survive the effects of Relativistic space travel, it would require advanced technology and a significant amount of energy. The high speeds and extreme conditions involved in Relativistic space travel could have adverse effects on the human body, making it currently unfeasible for human space travel.

5. Are there any potential risks or dangers associated with Relativistic space travel?

There are several potential risks and dangers associated with Relativistic space travel, including exposure to high levels of radiation and the possibility of collisions with debris in space. The high speeds involved also make it challenging to control and maneuver spacecraft, increasing the risk of accidents. Further research and technological advancements are needed to address these risks before Relativistic space travel can become a reality.

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