The First Intergalactic Spaceship Is Headed Toward the Magellanic Clouds

question 27

Multiple Choice

The first intergalactic spaceship is headed toward the Magellanic Clouds at a speed of 0.8c. The spaceship is 1 000 m long. Clocks at the front and the rear of the spaceship both read 3:00 P.M. Can it be 3:00 P.M. simultaneously at the front and the back of the spaceship?

• A) No, because , where Δx is the length of the spaceship.
• B) No, because one clock has to move after being synchronized with the other.
• C) Yes, because Δx in (a) is zero for different points of the same spaceship.
• D) Yes, because two clocks at rest relative to each other can be synchronized by means of light signals when the distance between them is known.
• E) The question cannot be answered unless we know the object relative to which the spaceship's velocity is 0.8c.

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Definitions:

Digital Sensors

Devices that convert physical information into digital signals for measurement, processing, or communication purposes.

Discrete Sensors

Sensors that detect and respond to changes in physical conditions with discrete output, such as on/off states, used in automation and control systems.

Limit Switch

An electromechanical device that operates based on the movement or presence of an object, used to control machinery and processes.

Actuated

Triggered or moved into action, often referring to the activation of a mechanical device or system component in response to a control signal.