Twin paradox?

Question

If one were to travel at or approach the speed of light, why is it that time dialates? I can't quite grasp the idea that just because an observer is traveling faster than light that time expands. Please help! Example would be appreciated.

Does this mean that time appears to be dialated by one observer? So time does not actually slow or am I incorrect in assuming this?

Answer 1

Paradox : By dictionary, it means something which is true but appears to be wrong.

Time dilates (delta T increases) for an observer measuring 2 events, spaced in time, upon undergoing a journey at a relaive speed (comparable to C) vis-a-vis another observer to whom that relative speed matters.

In fact, differently saying, clock goes slower for actually moving observer, thus Delta T increases for synchronised clocks.

Twin paradox, in fact, takes into account the relative reading of 2 sets of clocks : one that was at rest and the other that actually underwent relative motion. This makes it imperative for the moving observer to COME BACK to original place where the other observer is sitting (we can make him also moving, but a net near C is a must between them). Therefore, moving observer has to move in a closed path, to complete the event and compare the clocks.

Whenever someone moves in closed path he has to undergo acceleration+deceleration pairing. (TRY to violate if one can. Even in a circle centripetal force will always exist) >

Thus the paradox is essentially a problem of general relativity. But, we have explained it using transformations of special relativity.

The second most important point in this is who will (observers) actually say that his TIME DILATED. Because even the sitting observer is moving at (near - C) speed wrt actually noving observer, and negative C will not cause any effect on Delta T.

Now, only one twined-observer will qualify to have dilated time - have slowed down clock or will age less. >>> The observer who actually moved (or accelerated) - or whose clock moved with near C speed will age less (say 10 years).

Whereas observer at relative-rest will age more (say 100 years). And, moving observer will meet his brother's next generation.

It takes into the account "Proper Time Interval", which states that "everyone lives according to his/her own proper time interval' - It is said that paradox is a real phenomenon and while undergoing relative motion (at near C) the biological clock of moving observer gets slowed down as against the relative actual clocks at rest.

Answer 2

Time dialates as a consequence of the traveling observer seeing things the same as if they were not traveling (light from the front of a car near the speed of light.) The observer from outside sees the ship get shorter in the direction of travel.
The traveler never exceeds the speed of light. In fact, the effect applies far below the speed of light. Satellites in orbit with accurate clocks run at a different speed than those on the ground.

Answer 3

If it weren't that way, then the limit to speed would be infinite, which it is not. Michelson proved the the speed of light is constant with his famous interferometric experiments in the 1880's

The twin paradox occurs at under, but close to light speeds. What happens is that all dimensions, time included undergo a nonlinear transformation of coordinates that is dependent on velocity, known as the Lorentz transformation.

Imagine you are in a car and you are 30 miles from a city. now you travel one hour at 50 miles per hour. You are 80 miles from the city, and you watch shows 1 extra hour.

Now suppose you got Dr. Brown's Delorian powerd by Mr. Fusion, and you traveled 1 hour at 9/10ths the speed of light.
to an outside observer, his clock says 1 additional hour, and you are 9/10ths of a light hour away from the city (near Jupiter?)
Your watch shows a time passage of about 18 minuets, and your ruler looks 4 inches long to that outside observer.

Why is this strange result true? because nothing can travel faster than light, and motion can't come to an abrupt halt at the speed of light. thus things have to be so arranged so that at the speed of light it takes infinate energy to go even a infimatesimal bit faster. This requires that mass, space and even time itself destort because of velocity.

Time dialation may seem counter intuitive, but it has been verified to great precision. An atomic clock was sent on one of the lunar missions. When it came back, sure enough it had lost the few required milliseconds.

Answer 4

There is no such time as actual time.

You are of the opinion that the time which we experience is absolute.

The speed of light is alone absolute.

Absolute means you measure the speed of light the same , whether you are moving toward a beam of light or whether you are moving away from a beam of light or whether you are rest.

If you apply your mind to this phenomenon, you can find that these things cannot happen unless the length and time are changing according to the speed and direction of our motion toward or away from a beam of light.

Since the light’s speed is constant, the length, time and mass change according to one’s speed.

That is these quantities are relative and are not absolute.

Relative means, for the observer A who thinks he is at rest, the meter has shortened in a moving frame of B.

But the other one B will think that he is at rest and A is moving and hence according to B the meter with A is shortened.


You can’t raise a question which one has actually shortened.

Thus there is no absolute (Actual according to you) time mass and length.

Answer 5

Imagine a clock made out of two mirrors with a pulse of light bouncing back and forth between them. As this clock travels through space the light has to travel a longer distance between bounces. (The distance between the mirrors plus the distance travelled.) As the velocity approaches the speed of light the clock slows down until at the speed of light the clock would stop. This effect applies to Electron orbits and everything else so as you accelerate time slows.

Answer 6

That is "special relativity" and occurs on like the earth space travel. So from Einstein, "speed of light is Constant and independent of observers and sources relative motion. " (unlike sound which is dependent on motion of source and observer)
Let C= Speed of light
So D=distance=Velocity x time in normal world. So approach C with velocity and the because one person is stationary on earth point these laws dont apply, however the person riding the beam of light , he/she the world would look like building being tall and forshortened in width and so on as they pass the earth's visible terrain. Thus time is the variable because both observe the same physical space distances and the other variable is time itself.

This site will help you. Dont work too much on this until you are getting your Physics PHD.

http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/vvc/default.htm

Answer 7

The time dialates because the speed of light is really changing the mass of the object and this causes it to dialate.