Question

A spaceship is moving away from an asteroid with a speed of 0.80c relative to the asteroid. The spaceship then fires a missile with a speed of 0.50c relative to the spaceship. What is the speed of the missile measured by astronauts on the asteroid if the missile is fired away from the asteroid

Answer 1

0.93 c

Step-by-step explanation:

We are given that

Speed of Spaceship relative to the asteroid ,u=0.80 c

Speed of missile relative to the spaceship,v=0.50 c

We have to find the speed of missile measured by astronauts on the asteroid if the missile is fired away from the asteroid.

The speed of missile measured by astronaut on the asteroid=
`u'=(u+v)/(1+(uv)/(c^2))`

`u'=(0.80+0.50c)/(1+(0.80* 0.50c^2)/(c^2))`

`u'=(1.3)/(1+0.4)c=(1.3)/(1.4)c`

`u'=0.93 c`

Hence, the speed of missile measured by astronauts on the asteroid if the missile is fired away from the asteroid=0.93 c