Light hours special relativity time dilation

In summary, the planet R is 20 light hours away from Earth and it takes 25 hours for a spacecraft to reach it, as observed from Earth. The clocks are synchronized at the beginning. Using the time dilation formula, the spacecraft's time (from their frame of reference) can be calculated by dividing 25 by the square root of 1 minus the speed of the spacecraft squared divided by the speed of light squared. The speed should be expressed as a fraction of the speed of light. The time shown by a clock on board the spacecraft will be running more slowly than the Earth observer's time.
  • #1
adamaero
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Homework Statement


http://phy240.ahepl.org/Chp1-Relativity-Serway.pdf#page=39
#32
Planet R is 25 lighthours away from Earth. It takes 25 h (according to an Earth observer) for a spacecraft to reach this planet. The clocks are synchronized at the beginning. What is the spacecraft 's time (from their frame of reference)?

Homework Equations


Time dilation
{{math|Δ''t''}}:
:<math>\Delta t' = \frac{\Delta t}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}}</math>

The Attempt at a Solution



25/√[ 1 - ((20/c)/c)2] = 25

I think this is wrong because I don't know how to convert to speed without light. Also do I need to have everything in m/s?
 
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  • #2
Firstly, you have a typo copying the question: the planet is 20 light hours away, not 25.
You need to express the speed only as a fraction of the speed of light, to get v/c and hence determine the time dilation factor. This question selects a very simple case.
You then need to think about which way round to use the time dilation formula. As a sanity check, the time shown by a clock on board the spacecraft will be running more slowly than the Earth observer's time.
 
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FAQ: Light hours special relativity time dilation

1. What is the concept of light hours in special relativity?

The concept of light hours in special relativity refers to the distance that light travels in one hour, which is approximately 1.08 billion kilometers. This distance is used as a unit of measurement for astronomical distances and is also related to the phenomenon of time dilation.

2. How does time dilation occur in special relativity?

Time dilation in special relativity occurs when an object moves at a high speed relative to an observer. This causes time to pass slower for the moving object compared to the observer. This effect becomes more significant as the speed of the object approaches the speed of light.

3. Can time dilation be observed in everyday life?

Yes, time dilation can be observed in everyday life, although the effect is extremely small at everyday speeds. For example, GPS satellites have to account for time dilation due to their high speeds in orbit, in order to accurately calculate positions on Earth.

4. How does light travel at the same speed for all observers in special relativity?

According to special relativity, the speed of light is constant for all observers, regardless of their relative motion. This is because the laws of physics are the same for all inertial (non-accelerating) observers, and the speed of light is a fundamental constant in the universe.

5. Is there a limit to how fast an object can travel in special relativity?

Yes, according to special relativity, the speed of light is the maximum speed that any object can travel. This means that an object cannot accelerate to or beyond the speed of light, and as it approaches the speed of light, its mass and energy increase significantly.

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