Two spaceships are approaching one another, one with speed and the other with speed . Neither speed is 0. Their speed of approach, according to Newtonian mechanics, is . Special relativity tells us that the speed of approach
A) is more than the Newtonian value if each speed is more than half the speed of light.
B) is always greater than the Newtonian value.
C) is the same as the Newtonian value if each speed is less than half the speed of light.
D) is always less than the Newtonian value.

Question

Two spaceships are approaching one another, one with speed  and the other with speed  . Neither speed is 0. Their speed of approach, according to Newtonian mechanics, is  . Special relativity tells us that the speed of approach
A) is more than the Newtonian value if each speed is more than half the speed of light. 
B) is always greater than the Newtonian value. 
C) is the same as the Newtonian value if each speed is less than half the speed of light. 
D) is always less than the Newtonian value.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer of Two spaceships are approaching one another, one with speed  and the other with speed  . Neither speed is 0. Their speed of approach, according to Newtonian mechanics, is  . Special relativity tells us that the speed of approach
A) is more than the Newtonian value if each speed is more than half the speed of light. 
B) is always greater than the Newtonian value. 
C) is the same as the Newtonian value if each speed is less than half the speed of light. 
D) is always less than the Newtonian value.

Two Spaceships Are Approaching One Another, One with Speed