A 30-year-old astronaut goes off on a long-term mission in a spacecraft that travels at speeds close to that of light.The mission lasts exactly 20 years as measured on Earth.Biologically speaking,at the end of the mission,the astronaut's age would be
A)more than 50 years.
B)exactly 50 years.
C)less than 50 years.
D)exactly 30 years.
E)exactly 25 years.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the theory of relativity, time dilation occurs when an object travels at speeds close to that of light. This means that time appears to pass more slowly for the object in motion compared to the observer on Earth. In this case, the astronaut experiences time at a slower rate than those on Earth. Therefore, when the 20-year mission is complete, the astronaut will have aged biologically less than those on Earth, making the correct answer choice C.

A 30-Year-Old Astronaut Goes Off on a Long-Term Mission in a Spacecraft