Live Stoner Chat Special Relativity

[gradolabs]

Hey, I wanna talk about science. Physics, in particular.

So, the faster you travel, the slower time passes for you, right? Like if I started flying in a spaceship at half the speed of light, I would think a minute has passed, but to a stationary observer, only 45 seconds has elapsed relative to his position in space time.


That math isn't correct but I didn't want to break out my formula sheet and calculate the proper figures. It's the interaction between speed, time and space that I'm concerned about at the mo.

I was just wondering if there was a maximum usable speed at which one should travel if he wanted to a: get there as fast as possible and b: have as little time as possible elapse at his destination.

i.e. if going too fast would be counterproductive. Like, you age too much while traveling or your destination crumbles into ruins because you hit light speed and millions of years passed while you thought it only took a minute.

Just wondering... so are there any physicists here?

 

[pickpocket33]

Smoke much dope?

 

[Magic]

pickpocket bro whats up with all the negative comments?

 

[vapeo]

I think its the other way round. Time does slow down, but only for you when you approach the speed of light. If you were traveling that fast, everyone else would be aging at a faster rate than you would be.

I could be wrong though

 

[Pal23]

pickpocket, you need to take a serious look at how you're conducting yourself on this forum buddy - none of us would want to see anyone go, including yourself, so please consider the vibes we try to maintain before posting quite frankly rude and abrasive comments. And just a heads up, most people on this forum smoke dope..

 

[Magic]

Its actually a legitimate question. But this is why I don’t think we will reach interstellar travel with spaceships, I think it will be computers. You are actually traveling into the past the faster you go and farther you go, your right it would be counter productive the faster you go. and not only that the faster an object is traveling the more dense the object gets, can you see a problem with a space ship goingthat fast? That’s why I don’t believe that are working on spaceships that can go across galaxy it just doesn’t make sense scientifically.

 

[NEimmaculates]

I believe vapeo is correct in as the time distortion only happens to you.

 

[Balarama]

Physics fan here

It's known as the "twins paradox" and you can read about it here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_paradox

Actually it goes like this, every point(particle, object) in spacetime, when applied some acceleration, bends spacetime in a way that makes time flow slower because of the energy put into this acceleration.
So one twin accelerates away from earth and to his local spacetime(accelerated matter which is travelling, like a spaceship) time slows down compared to the still twin on Earth. The one travelling for let's say 10 years, comes back aged less than his twin.

Relativity is a mind bending theory and is not really easy to grasp. But it can be done and it not only bends the mind, but can also blow it

 

[gradolabs]

I don't know how to break the news gently, so I'm just going to say it.

I totally smoke weed. A lot. As much as I can actually. In fact I'm learning how to grow it, so I can be self sustaining. Further more, I frequent internet forums dedicated to growing, and often times I'm under the influence of something when I post. Whatever I could get my grubby hands on and inspire my curious mind with.

Circling back to the more relevant topic, I think this will be a huge area of study in the future as if scientists are not already contemplating and quantifying the ramifications of interstellar travel.

Obviously it takes a hell of an effort just to get off planet... and if someone had to skip across the galaxy for whatever reason, I'm just wondering how to calculate the most effective means of wayfaring.

I have a gut feeling there's a threshold or something... a set speed of traveling where you get there and as little time as possible has elapsed for both you and your destination because I doubt the answer is to keep going faster.

I'm aware of worm holes... so I'm asking about this within the context of a seamless spacetime membrane. Sure we could fold space and travel back in time with enough energy, but for conventional point a to b... I wonder what the secrets are.

Happy Easter/Zombie Jesus/4-20 day. Stay in good spirits.

 

[oldster]

Hi Grad,

My understanding is that time effect is only for the traveler, time for an observer would continue as normal. That being said you would want to travel as close to the speed of light as you could to minimize the amount of time that had passed for the observer (this would also minimize the time passed for the traveler).

Now if only you could do something about that pesky weight gain as you approach the speed of light so that you could actually do it!