- #1
Huston
- 3
- 0
Homework Statement
The closest star system is about 4.3 light years away from Earth. A spacetug is able to move a cargo ship at a constant force of g=9.8N/kg times the mass of the cargo ship for many years. Starting from rest, speed up the cargo ship until you're halfway to the nearest stars, then pull back with the same force to slow the ship down to rest. Determine the maximum speed attained and how many Earth years the trip there takes.
Homework Equations
I'm not sure. I really just need help starting it. We haven't really gone over relativity, and my teacher is giving this project as a challenge. I'm not sure if it's easier than I'm making it, but our book doesn't really have much pertinent information on the subject except that we need to use the relativistic position update equation to solve it. We haven't done any relativity problems in class and I'd just love a push in the right direction!
The Attempt at a Solution
Normally, I'd start with the kinematic equations, but here they end up with wrong answers because they don't account for relativity. Please help me get started! Thanks!