/*! 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}

91Ó°ÊÓ

Our Milky Way galaxy is 100,000lyin diameter. A spaceship crossing the galaxy measures the galaxy’s diameter to be a mere 1.0ly.

a. What is the spacecraft’s speed, as a fraction of c, relative to the galaxy?

b. How long is the crossing time as measured in the galaxy’s reference frame?

Short Answer

Expert verified

(a) The speed of the spaceship relative to the galaxy is 0.999999999c.

(b) The time in the galaxy's reference frame is 100,000years.

Step by step solution

01

Part (a) Step 1: Given Information

We have given that our Milky Way galaxy is 100,000lyin diameter.

A spaceship crossing the galaxy measures the galaxy’s diameter to be a mere 1.0ly.

We have to find the spacecraft’s speed, as a fraction of c, relative to the galaxy.

02

Part (a) Step 2: Simplify

The correct length of the galaxy in this case is 100,000light years.

To find the fraction of the speed of light, use the appropriate length equation.

localid="1649845082660" L=LÒÏγ=LÒÏ1-v2c2LLÒÏ2=1-v2c2v2=c21-LLÒÏ2v=1-LLÒÏ2c=-11.0ly100000ly2=0.999999999c

03

Part (b) Step 1: Given Information

We have given that our Milky Way galaxy is 100,000lyin diameter.

A spaceship crossing the galaxy measures the galaxy’s diameter to be a mere 1.0ly.

We have to find the time in the galaxy’s reference frame.

04

Part (b) Step 2: Simplify

Time in the galaxy’s reference frame is

t=dv

=(100000ly)(9.46×1015m/ly)(0.999999999)(3.00×108m/s=3153333336487s=100,000years

Therefore, time in the galaxy’s reference frame is100,000years.

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

Particle A has half the mass and twice the speed of particle B. Is the momentum pA less than, greater than, or equal to pB? Explain.

a. At what speed, as a fraction of c,must a rocket travel on a journey to and from a distant star so that the astronauts age 10years while the Mission Control workers on earth age 120years?

b. As measured by Mission Control, how far away is the distant star?

What are the rest energy, the kinetic energy, and the total energy of a 1.0g particle with a speed of 0.80c?

The star Delta goes supernova. One year later and 2.0lyaway, as measured by astronomers in the galaxy, star Epsilon explodes. Let the explosion of Delta be at role="math" localid="1649750409129" xD=0 andtD=0. The explosions are observed by three spaceships cruising through the galaxy in the direction from Delta to Epsilon at velocitiesv1=0.30c, v2=0.50c, and v3=0.70c. All three spaceships, each at the origin of its reference frame, happen to pass Delta as it explodes.

a. What are the times of the two explosions as measured by scientists on each of the three spaceships?

b. Does one spaceship find that the explosions are simultaneous? If so, which one?

c. Does one spaceship find that Epsilon explodes before Delta? If so, which one?

d. Do your answers to parts b and c violate the idea of causality? Explain.

A distant quasar is found to be moving away from the earth at 0.80c. A galaxy closer to the earth and along the same line of sight is moving away from us at 0.20c. What is the recessional speed of the quasar, as a fraction of c, as measured by astronomers in the other galaxy?

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.