A spaceship is moving directly towards a planet at a speed of `c/2`. When the spaceship is `4.5xx10^(8)m` from the planet (as measured by someone on the spaceship), a pulse of light is emitted by someone on the planet. As measured by someone on the spaceship, how long does it take the light pulse to travel from the planet to the ship?

Options

A. 0.5sec
B. 1.0sec
C. 1.5sec
D. 2.0sec

Answer

C

Explanation

The second postulate of Einstein's theory of special relativity states that the speed of light is a universal constant `(c=3xx10^(8)m//s)`, regardless of the motion of the source or the detector. So despite the fact that the spaceship is approaching the planet at a speed of c/2, occupants of the ship will still measure the speed of light to be c. the time it takes the light pulse to travel a distance of `4.5xx10^(8)m` is
`t=(d)/(c)=(4.5xx10^(8)m)/(3.0xx10^(8)m//s)=1.5s`.