You are in a spaceship with no windows, radios, or other means to check outside. How would you determine if the spaceship is at rest or moving at constant velocity?   a) By determining the apparent velocity of light in the spaceship   b) By checking your precision watch. If it's running slow, then the ship is moving.   c) By measuring the lengths of objects. in the spaceship. If they are shorter, then the ship is moving.

College Physics
11th Edition
ISBN:9781305952300
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Chapter26: Relativity
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 2P: A spaceship moves past Earth with a speed of 0.900c. As it is passing, a person on Earth measures...
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You are in a spaceship with no windows, radios, or other means to check outside. How would you determine if the spaceship is at rest or moving at constant velocity?

 

a) By determining the apparent velocity of light in the spaceship

 
b) By checking your precision watch. If it's running slow, then the ship is moving.
 
c) By measuring the lengths of objects. in the spaceship. If they are shorter, then the ship is moving.
 

d) By measuring your weight on a scale located in the spaceship. If you have gained mass, then the ship is moving.

 
e) You should give up because you've taken on a impossible task.
 
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