The starships of the Solar Federation are marked with the symbol of the Federation, a circle, whereas starships of the Denebian Empire are marked with the Empire's symbol, an ellipse whose major axis is n times its minor axis (a=nb in the figure ). How fast, relative to an observer, does an Empire ship have to travel for its markings to be confused with those of a Federation ship? Use c for the speed of light in a vacuum.
Express your answer in terms of n and c.

Complete question

The complete question is shown on the first uploaded image  

The velocity is  

Explanation:

From the question we are told that

           a = nb

The length of the minor axis  of  the symbol of the Federation, a circle, seen by the observer at velocity v must be equal to the minor axis(b) of the  Empire's symbol, (an ellipse)

Now this length seen by the observer can be mathematically represented as

Here t  is the actual length of the major axis of of the  Empire's symbol, (an ellipse)

So t = a = nb

and  b is the length of the minor axis of the symbol of the Federation, (a circle) when seen by an observer at velocity v which from the question must be the length of the minor axis of the of the  Empire's symbol, (an ellipse)

 i.e    h = b

So

work: w = fd (given)

work done by chet   =50*1 = 50 j

work done by mika =40*2 = 80 j

work done by sara =30*1.5 = 45 j

work done by bill =60*0.5 = 30 j

students in order from the greatest amount of work done to the least is mika> chet> sara> bill

hence option (b) is correct.

hi there!

out of the two, (b) precision would be more reasonable.   however, both a and b could be pretty reasonable.

-awesomerepublic   : )