2007-06-28 06:26:08 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes, but not significantly. You would need an atomic clock to measure the time dilation.
Edit: Re answers below: I would guess that they will age faster, not slower. According to GR, time runs slower in the a gravitational well. I'm guessing that that effect beats any time dilation from traveling at higher speeds. Remember, the earth isn't standing still either.
2007-06-28 06:28:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ambient radiation will cook them but good. A solar flare will kill them. Everybody in Spacelab, MIR and ISS FUBAR got radiation cataracts - and they were still wtihin the protective cocoon of Earth's magnetopsphere. Being above the atmosphere removed the equivalent of 91 cm thickness of lead radiation shielding.
Special Relativity will have them age more slowly for their large relative velocity. The reference frame that passes through the most space accumulates the least time; ds^2 is locally conserved. General Relativity will have them aging faster for being out of Earth's gravitational well (GPS corrections). Bottom line: It pretty much cancels to parts-per-billion, or way less than a tenth second/year.
2007-06-28 07:14:50 · answer #2 · answered by Uncle Al 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will age slightly slower than the rest of us, if they are traveling faster than we are. It depends upon the speed of their ship. If they are going slower than us, then they will age faster than us. Note that the amount they age differently will be very slight and there won't be any noticeable age differences.
2007-06-28 06:43:58 · answer #3 · answered by N E 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will appear to age slower than us. But the effect will be so small you will need an atomic clock to be able to detect it. It's going to be of the order of nanoseconds.
2007-06-28 06:29:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think Bekki is closest to correct. Are they moving faster, or are they slowing up as we move faster. At some point, they have to speed up to catch us again, so I think the time dilation (via special relativity) would reverse, right?
It hurts my brain. I'm not smart enough for general relativity, so I'd go with Bekki.
2007-06-28 07:13:25 · answer #5 · answered by Shawn A 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, very slightly slower.
2007-06-28 06:29:11 · answer #6 · answered by lunatic 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We all will be anxious to get the answer.
2007-06-28 06:29:23 · answer #7 · answered by Renaissance Man 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋