Question

A spaceship moves at a speed of 0.95 c away from the Earth. It shoots a star wars torpedo toward the Earthat a speed of 0.90 c relative to the ship. What is the velocity of the torpedo relative to the Earth? (The direction in which the spaceship move

Answer 1

0.345 c

Step-by-step explanation:

`v_(se)` = velocity of spaceship relative to earth = 0.95 c

`v_(ts)` = velocity of torpedo relative to spaceship = - 0.90 c

`v_(te)` = velocity of torpedo relative to earth

Velocity of torpedo relative to earth is given as

`v_(te)=(v_(se) + v_(ts))/(1 + (v_(se)v_(ts))/(c^(2)))`

`v_(te)=(0.95c + (- 0.90 c))/(1 + ((0.95 c)(- 0.90 c)))/(c^(2)))`

`v_(te)` = 0.345 c