/*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} Problem 82 An astronaut has spent a long ... [FREE SOLUTION] | 91Ó°ÊÓ

91Ó°ÊÓ

An astronaut has spent a long time in the Space Shuttle traveling at $7.860 \mathrm{km} / \mathrm{s} .$ When he returns to Earth, he is 1.0 s younger than his twin brother. How long was he on the shuttle? [Hint: Use an approximation from Appendix A.5 and beware of calculator round off errors.]

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The astronaut spent approximately 41,712 seconds, or about 11 hours and 35 minutes, on the Space Shuttle.

Step by step solution

01

Write down the time dilation formula.

The formula for time dilation due to the effects of special relativity is given by: \(t' = \frac{t}{\sqrt{1 - \frac{v^2}{c^2}}}\) Here, \(t'\) is the dilated time experienced by the astronaut, \(t\) is the time experienced on Earth, \(v\) is the velocity of the astronaut, and \(c\) is the speed of light.
02

Calculate the difference in time experienced by the twins.

The problem states that the astronaut is 1.0 s younger than his twin brother on Earth. Therefore, we can write the difference in time as: \(\Delta t = t - t' = 1.0\,\text{s}\) We need to find the value of \(t\), which is the time spent by the astronaut on the shuttle.
03

Rearrange the time dilation formula to find t.

We need to express t in terms of \(t'\), \(v\), and \(c\). First, rewrite the formula as: \(t = t' \sqrt{1 - \frac{v^2}{c^2}}\) Then, substitute the value of \(\Delta t\) into the equation: \(t = (t + 1.0\,\text{s}) \sqrt{1 - \frac{v^2}{c^2}}\)
04

Insert the given values and solve for t.

We are given the astronaut's velocity, \(v = 7.86 \,\text{km/s}\), which we need to convert to meters per second: \(v = 7.86 \times 10^3 \,\text{m/s}\) We also need to use the speed of light, \(c = 3 \times 10^8 \,\text{m/s}\). Now, we can substitute these values into the rearranged time dilation formula: \(t = (t + 1.0\,\text{s}) \sqrt{1 - \frac{(7.86 \times 10^3\, \text{m/s})^2}{(3 \times 10^8 \,\text{m/s})^2}}\) Solve for \(t\): \(t \approx 41712\,\text{s}\) The astronaut has spent about 41,712 seconds on the shuttle, which is about 11 hours and 35 minutes.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

A cosmic ray particle travels directly over a football field, from one goal line to the other, at a speed of \(0.50 c .\) (a) If the length of the field between goal lines in the Earth frame is \(91.5 \mathrm{m}(100 \mathrm{yd}),\) what length is measured in the rest frame of the particle? (b) How long does it take the particle to go from one goal line to the other according to Earth observers? (c) How long does it take in the rest frame of the particle?

At the 10.0 -km-long Stanford Linear Accelerator, electrons with rest energy of 0.511 MeV have been accelerated to a total energy of \(46 \mathrm{GeV}\). How long is the accelerator as measured in the reference frame of the electrons?

A spaceship travels at constant velocity from Earth to a point 710 ly away as measured in Earth's rest frame. The ship's speed relative to Earth is $0.9999 c .$ A passenger is 20 yr old when departing from Earth. (a) How old is the passenger when the ship reaches its destination, as measured by the ship's clock? (b) If the spaceship sends a radio signal back to Earth as soon as it reaches its destination, in what year, by Earth's calendar, does the signal reach Earth? The spaceship left Earth in the year 2000.
As observed from Earth, rocket Alpha moves with speed \(0.90 c\) and rocket Bravo travels with a speed of \(0.60 c\) They are moving along the same line toward a head-on collision. What is the speed of rocket Alpha as measured from rocket Bravo? (tutorial: adding velocities)
The light-second is a unit of distance; 1 light-second is the distance that light travels in 1 second. (a) Find the conversion between light-seconds and meters: 1 lightsecond \(=? \mathrm{m} .\) (b) What is the speed of light in units of light-seconds per second?
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.