A relativity question

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

the_id

Guest
Let us say that two objects (having mass) leave a common point of origin. They are traveling in opposite directions, moving away from each other at 180°. Each accelerates to 75% the speed of light, relative to their common point of origin. Since they have mass and cannot reach, much less exceed the speed of light, what is their relative speed to each other and how is that calculated?
 
S

Saiph

Guest
the velocity of one ship, relative to the other (not your stationary origin, which you've already stated the speed) is expressed by:<br /><br />v = (w - u)/(1 - wu/c^2)<br /><br />Where w is the velocity of one, u of the other. <br /><br /><br />its from http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/SR/velocity.html and the keywords that can lead you to more information is "relativistic velocity addition"<br /><br />Relativistic means speeds significant compared to that of light (~50% or greater) velocity meaning speed (and direction) addition meaning putting them together.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p align="center"><font color="#c0c0c0"><br /></font></p><p align="center"><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">----</font></em></font><font color="#666699">SaiphMOD@gmail.com </font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">-------------------</font></em></font></p><p><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">"This is my Timey Wimey Detector.  Goes "bing" when there's stuff.  It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually.  I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- </font></em></font><font size="1" color="#999999">The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>
 
T

the_id

Guest
Well thank you for the web site. I’ll have to spend some more time with it, but ultimately it looks like just what I needed.
 
S

Saiph

Guest
no problem.<br /><br />I often find the solution to a problem eludes me, only cause I can't think of the right keywords for google. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p align="center"><font color="#c0c0c0"><br /></font></p><p align="center"><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">--------</font></em></font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">----</font></em></font><font color="#666699">SaiphMOD@gmail.com </font><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">-------------------</font></em></font></p><p><font color="#999999"><em><font size="1">"This is my Timey Wimey Detector.  Goes "bing" when there's stuff.  It also fries eggs at 30 paces, wether you want it to or not actually.  I've learned to stay away from hens: It's not pretty when they blow" -- </font></em></font><font size="1" color="#999999">The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts