A spaceship travels at a speed of 0.95c to the nearest star, Alpha Centauri, 4.3 light years ly) away. How long does the trip take from the point of view of the passengers on the ship?
A) 1.4 ly
B) 1.0 ly
C) 4.5 ly
D) 14 ly
E) 0.44 ly

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The time experienced by the passengers is affected by time dilation. The proper time is calculated using the formula: time = distance/speed. The contracted distance is 4.3 ly * sqrt(1 - (0.95)^2) = 1.4 ly.

A Spaceship Travels at a Speed of 0