Spacetime intervals reveal length contraction Planet X is 60 lightyears away from Earth. Assume that there...

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Spacetime intervals reveal length contraction Planet X is 60 lightyears away from Earth. Assume that there is no relative motion between Planet X and Earth (i.e., from the Earth, it appears that Planet X is at rest and vice versa). This problem can be solved by considering relativistic effects, which are called time dilation and length contraction, but we can rather use the spacetime interval. You travel on a rocket ship, moving at a constant speed of 0.6 c, directly from Earth to Planet X. (a) How long does light take to reach Planet X from Earth? Answer in years. (b) According to an observer on Earth, how many years does it take you to jour- ney to Planet X? That is, what is the time interval between the time that you leave Earth and when you arrive at Planet X, according to an observer on Earth? Answer in years. (c) When you complete your journey to Planet X, according to you, how much older are you than when you left Earth? Use the spacetime interval to answer this question. (d) Using the answer in c, find out how far, according to you, the distance be- tween Planet X and Earth is. You would get exactly the same answer if you used the formula for length contraction. Spacetime intervals reveal length contraction Planet X is 60 lightyears away from Earth. Assume that there is no relative motion between Planet X and Earth (i.e., from the Earth, it appears that Planet X is at rest and vice versa). This problem can be solved by considering relativistic effects, which are called time dilation and length contraction, but we can rather use the spacetime interval. You travel on a rocket ship, moving at a constant speed of 0.6 c, directly from Earth to Planet X. (a) How long does light take to reach Planet X from Earth? Answer in years. (b) According to an observer on Earth, how many years does it take you to jour- ney to Planet X? That is, what is the time interval between the time that you leave Earth and when you arrive at Planet X, according to an observer on Earth? Answer in years. (c) When you complete your journey to Planet X, according to you, how much older are you than when you left Earth? Use the spacetime interval to answer this question. (d) Using the answer in c, find out how far, according to you, the distance be- tween Planet X and Earth is. You would get exactly the same answer if you used the formula for length contraction.

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The problem presented revolves around the concept of relativistic effects specifically in the context of a journey from Earth to a planet 60 lightyear... View the full answer