How to find the velocity of two objects moving apart at relativistic speeds?
2 identical spacecraft leave Earth at the same velocity but in different directions. If the velocity of each spacecraft was 0.84c, what value would an observer on Earth obtain when he calculated their relative velocities?
2 identical spacecraft leave Earth at the same velocity but in different directions. If the velocity of each spacecraft was 0.84c, what value would an observer on Earth obtain when he calculated their relative velocities?
1 Answer
the earth observer sees both spacecrafts moving away at
the one spaceship sees the other at
Explanation:
γ=
rewrite 1 and 2 as
now divide them
multiply by
now since they move in opposite directions set
v=0.84c and u=-0.84c
and you get
I hope this helped!