How much did Scott Carpenter age less when he orbited the earth 22 times?

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In summary, the problem asks to determine the time difference between Scott Carpenter, who orbited the Earth 22 times in 1962 at a height of 160 km, and someone on Earth for the 22 orbits. The equations given are for proper time and delta t, and it is necessary to know the radius of the orbit to solve for the speed and time taken. The acceleration due to gravity at that height is also a factor.
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Homework Statement



Scott Carpenter orbited the Earth 22 times in 1962. Assuming he was 160 km above Earth in a circular orbit, determine the time difference between someone on the Earth and Carpenter for the 22 orbits.

Homework Equations


L = Lp(1 - v^2/c^2)^.5 delta t = t /(1 -v^2/c^2)^.5 Note the t on right hand side of equation is the proper time.


The Attempt at a Solution


All that is given in the problem is the proper length 160,000m. The problem does not specify how fast Carpenter is moving or how long it took to complete one orbit. Obviously Carpenter is going to be measuring proper time and delta t is the time someone measures on the Earth. I have tried solving for v in the first equation and substitute in the second equation. Still leaves you with three unknown variables.
 
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If you know the radius of the orbit, you can determine how fast he is moving and how long it took. He is in orbit so the acceleraton must be the acceleration due to gravity at that height.
 

FAQ: How much did Scott Carpenter age less when he orbited the earth 22 times?

How long did it take Scott Carpenter to orbit the earth 22 times?

It took Scott Carpenter approximately 4 hours and 56 minutes to complete 22 orbits around the earth.

How many times did Scott Carpenter orbit the earth in total?

Scott Carpenter orbited the earth 22 times during his spaceflight on the Aurora 7 spacecraft.

Did Scott Carpenter age less while in orbit?

Yes, Scott Carpenter aged slightly less during his 4 hours and 56 minutes in orbit compared to the same amount of time on Earth. This is due to the effects of time dilation, which is caused by the high speed and gravitational forces experienced during spaceflight.

How much less did Scott Carpenter age while in orbit?

According to calculations, Scott Carpenter aged approximately 0.007 seconds less during his 4 hours and 56 minutes in orbit.

How does time dilation affect aging in space?

Time dilation, which is caused by the high speeds and gravitational forces experienced during spaceflight, causes astronauts to age slightly slower compared to people on Earth. This effect becomes more significant the longer an astronaut stays in space.

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