68. Many science fiction spaceships are powered by antimatter re-actors. Suppose a 20-m-long spaceship, with a mass of 15,000 kgwhen empty, carries 2000 kg of fuel: 1000 kg each of matterand antimatter. The matter and antimatter are slowly combined,and the energy of their total annihilation is used to propel theship. After consuming all the fuel and reaching top speed,the spaceship flies past a space station that is stationary withrespect to the planet from which the ship was launched. Whatis the length of the spaceship as measured by astronauts on thespace station?

To solve this problem, we can use the principle of time dilation from special relativity. When the…

Answered: 68. Many science fiction spaceships are…

Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Technology Update (No access codes included)

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Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett

Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett

Chapter39: Relativity

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 39.57P

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Question

68. Many science fiction spaceships are powered by antimatter re-
actors. Suppose a 20-m-long spaceship, with a mass of 15,000 kg
when empty, carries 2000 kg of fuel: 1000 kg each of matter
and antimatter. The matter and antimatter are slowly combined,
and the energy of their total annihilation is used to propel the
ship. After consuming all the fuel and reaching top speed,
the spaceship flies past a space station that is stationary with
respect to the planet from which the ship was launched. What
is the length of the spaceship as measured by astronauts on the
space station?

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