Question

What is the relative speed of two particles travelling towards each other with speed 0.8c?

Answer 1

`V_(relative)=0.975c`

Step-by-step explanation:

given,

velocity of two particles

u = 0.8 c

v = -0.8 c

According to the Lorentz Transformation Equation the relative velocity of 2 object moving.

`V_(relative)=(u-v)/(1-(uv)/(c^2))`

`V_(relative)=(0.8c-(-0.8c))/(1-(0.8c*(-0.8c))/(c^2))`

`V_(relative)=(1.6c))/(1+0.64)`

`V_(relative)=0.975c`

hence, the relative velocity of the two particle is equal to
`V_(relative)=0.975c`