Space pirates: a pursuit curve problem involving retarded time

Abstract

We revisit the classical pursuit curve problem solved by Pierre Bouguer in the 18th century, taking into account that information propagates at a finite speed. To a certain extent, this could be seen as a relativistic correction to that problem, though one does not need Einstein's theory of relativity in order to derive or understand its solution. The discussion of this generalized problem of pursuit constitutes an excellent opportunity to introduce the concept of retarded time without the complications inherent to the study of electromagnetic radiation (where it is usually seen for the first time), which endows the problem with a clear pedagogical motivation. We find the differential equation which describes the problem, solve it numerically, compare the solution to Bouguer's for different values of the parameters, and deduce a necessary and sufficient condition for the pursuer to catch the pursued, complementing previous work by Hoenselaers.