In an attempt to reduce the extraordinary long travel times for voyaging to distant stars, some people have suggested traveling close to the speed of light. Suppose you wish to visit the red giant star Betelgeuse, which is 430 ly away, and that you want your 20,000kg rocket to move so fast that you age only 20 years during the round trip. How fast must the rocket travel relative to earth?

Question

Physics

Megan Wilkins

20 February, 23:58

In an attempt to reduce the extraordinary long travel times for voyaging to distant stars, some people have suggested traveling close to the speed of light. Suppose you wish to visit the red giant star Betelgeuse, which is 430 ly away, and that you want your 20,000kg rocket to move so fast that you age only 20 years during the round trip. How fast must the rocket travel relative to earth?

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Marcus Rios · Answer 1

You can calculate velocity V by simple formula; velocity=distance/time V = 430*2*9.4607 * 1015 20*365*24*60*60 where, 1 light year=9.4607*10^15meters and since its a round trip hence 430 multiplied by 2. then use the formula, u′x = ux - V 1 - ux V c2