Suppose you're traveling on a space ship at 9/10 the speed of light (.9c). You have a high-powered rifle that shoots bullets at the same speed. Suppose you shoot the bullet perpendicular to your direction of travel.

It appears that the bullet would travel at a 45-degree angle (northeast, if the ship is traveling north and the bullet is shot eastward), at about 1.2728c which is faster than light. Why is this wrong, and what would the actual speed and direction be?

AFTER READING THE OTHER COMMENTS,I WOULD LIKE TO ADD 1 MORE WHICH IS JUST A WILD TRY

            THEORETICALLY,THE ANSWER IS CORRECT BUT IT ISNT POSSIBLE TO SEND A PERSON IN A SPACE SHIP ALMOST AT THE SPEED OF LIGHT.EITHER,THE PERSON'LL DIE OR THE SHIP WOULD BURN UP.

SO,PRACTICALLY THINKING,THIS WHOLE SYSTEM ISNT POSSIBLE.

YO

Posted by nilshady on 2005-04-21 17:05:51