MadSci Network: Physics |
Space travel in three dimensions Image a space vehicle of some type, capable of a maximum velocity (maxV) of 98% the speed of light for a indefinite period of time. It's first vector is in any directory (v1). After reaching maxV, it rotates until it's 90 degrees to the first vector (v1) which I will name (v2), re-starts it's engines again until it reaches it's maxV. Finally it rotates until it's 90 degrees to (v1) and (v2) which could only be two vectors forming a line (v3) , and again re-starts it engines until it reaches it's maxV. In my mind, the final vector is easy to picture, but I'm unable to calculate the Final Velocity. My assumptions are; 1. Each subsequent vector v2 and v3, add to the total velocity, 2. v2 and v3 do NOT reduce any previous acceleration. It's seems to me that the Final Velocity would be greater than the speed of light, which I know is not possible. QUESTIONS: What is the Final Velocity, and how is it calculated? After the final acceleration (v3), information seems to be lost, i.e. the previous vectors v1 and v2 can not be determined by analyzing vector v3, and to any outside observer it would appear that the space vehicle had simply been traveling v3 since it started. Is the lose of "information" significant to the calculation ?
Re:Space travel in three dimensions
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