Light takes 4.3 years to travel from Alpha Centauri (the star closest to the Sun) to the Earth. If a spaceship traveling near the speed of light were to make the same trip, the time to travel this distance as measured by the astronauts would be
A) longer than the lifespan of a human being.
B) less than 4.3 years.
C) 4.3 years.
D) a little more than 4.3 years.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity, an astronaut traveling at a speed close to the speed of light would experience time dilation, which means that time would appear to pass slower for them than for someone who is stationary. Therefore, the time measured by the astronaut on the spaceship would be less than 4.3 years.

Light Takes 4