Speed is measured relative to a stationary object. Velocity is determined by calculating the time it takes to travel a known distance from a stationary object. A cars speedometer measures speed relative to the stationary ground it is traveling on. An airplane measures speed by the same thing, by how long it takes to travel between points of a known distance on the ground.
So when it is said that a spacecraft is hurtling at 46,000 miles per hour beyond the orbit of Pluto towards the next star, what is that speed being compared against? In that part of space, there is no stationary object to calculate velocity. Is it still being compared to a stationary object on the surface of the Earth? At that distance, the Earth is traveling through space in orbit around the sun, which is traveling in orbit around the galaxy, which is traveling through space around who knows what.
So, what is the spacecraft traveling at 46,000 miles per hour from or towards that can be measured?
2006-07-22
08:44:34
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7 answers
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asked by
cdb
3
in
Physics