The closest star to our solar system is Alpha Centauri, which is 4.30 light years away. A spaceship with a constant speed of 0.800c relative to the Earth travels toward the star. What distance does the space ship travel according to a passenger on the ship?
A)2.58 ly
B)3.52 ly
C)4.12 ly
D)4.30 ly
E)6.16 ly

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The distance traveled by the spaceship according to a passenger on the ship is given by the formula:$$d = v * t$$where:* d is the distance traveled* v is the speed of the spaceship* t is the time of travelThe time of travel can be found using the formula:$$t = d / v$$where:* t is the time of travel* d is the distance traveled* v is the speed of the spaceshipSubstituting the given values into the formula, we get:$$t = 4.30 ly / 0.800c = 5.375 years$$Now we can use the formula for the distance traveled to find:$$d = v * t = 0.800c * 5.375 years = 2.58 ly$$Therefore, the distance traveled by the spaceship according to a passenger on the ship is 2.58 ly.

The Closest Star to Our Solar System Is Alpha Centauri