You are on an interstellar mission from the Earth to the 8.7 light-years distant star Sirius. Your

spaceship can travel with 70% the speed of light and has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of

6 m at the front surface and a length of 25 m. You have to cross the interstellar medium with an

approximated density of 1 hydrogen atom/m3

.

(a) Calculate the time it takes your spaceship to reach Sirius.

(b) Determine the mass of interstellar gas that collides with your spaceship during the mission.

Note: Use 1.673 * 10-27 kg as proton mass.

Question

Giana Mclean

Physics

12 October, 05:48

You are on an interstellar mission from the Earth to the 8.7 light-years distant star Sirius. Your

spaceship can travel with 70% the speed of light and has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of

6 m at the front surface and a length of 25 m. You have to cross the interstellar medium with an

approximated density of 1 hydrogen atom/m3

.

(a) Calculate the time it takes your spaceship to reach Sirius.

(b) Determine the mass of interstellar gas that collides with your spaceship during the mission.

Note: Use 1.673 * 10-27 kg as proton mass.

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Allyson Thompson · Answer 1

(a) Calculate the time it takes your spaceship to reach Sirius.

(b) Determine the mass of interstellar gas that collides with your spaceship during the mission

Explanation:

1.673 * 10-27 kg as proton mass

6 m at the front surface and a length of 25 m

cross the interstellar medium with an approximated density of 1 hydrogen atom/m3

spaceship can travel with 70% the speed of light

speed of the light: 299,792,458 m/s