Question

I know the answer is 16500 kg but I am unsure of the equations involved. Please help.

how many kg of antimatter would be needed to to accelerate a space probe to .96 c > Assume th the energy from the matter-antimatter annihilation reaction is magically transported to the space probe from earth, so the mass of the space probe can be considered to not change as the antimatter fuel is "burned". The mass of the ship is 15000 kg.

Answer 1

Here, E = mc²

=>    mc²   = 1/2 * 15000 * [1/sqrt(1 - 0.96²)] * (0.96c)² * 0.6684

=>   m = 16500 kg

=>    kg of antimatter would be needed to to accelerate a space probe = 16500 kg