Length Contraction Question (1 Viewer)

[TeaYarn]

A 100m long Klingon space vessel flies past Saturn at 0.25c. The diameter of Saturn as seen from the Earth is 120 000 km. Calculate:
a) its diameter as seen by the Klingons
b) the length of the Klingon vessel as seen from Saturn?

Please help

 

[Squar3root]

A) 123935.47 km
b) 96.82 m

 

[Parvee]

A) 123935.47 km
b) 96.82 m

iirc the diameter should be reduced so it should be 116189.5km

 

[bokat]

a) The diameter will contract in the direction of motion but unchanged perpendicular to the motion.
In the direction of motion the diameter will be 120000xsqrt(1-(0.25c/c)^2)=116190.5 km.
b) The length of the Klington vessel as seen from earth will be contracted, so multiply its stationary length be sqrt(1-(v/c)^2)
So the length as seen from earth will be 100xsqrt(1-(0.25c/c)^2)= 96.82 m

Reza Bokat,
www.cambridgecoaching.com.au

 

[Squar3root]

iirc the diameter should be reduced so it should be 116189.5km

Oops my bad. I made a small algebraic mistake and confused my self with the question. Yes that is correct