The law of velocity addition in the special theory of relativity can be written in the form
(1) β12=1+β1⋅β2β1+β2 , where β=cV . In first case we have
(2) βtowards=1+0.8⋅0.60.8+0.6=1.481.4=0.95 . When the rocket is moving away from Earth the β2 become negative.
(3) βaway=1−0.8⋅0.60.8−0.6=0.520.2=0.38
Answer: (i) when the rocket is launched from a spaceship towards the earth its speed is 0.95c as observed by an observer on earth, (ii) if the rocket starts away from the earth its speed is 0.38c
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