Speed of light and Time Travel

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of the speed of light and time dilation as described by Einstein's Theory of Relativity, particularly in the context of pilots flying at high speeds. Participants explore whether pilots experience slower aging due to the effects of traveling at high velocities and the associated G-forces.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that pilots, due to their high speeds, may age slightly slower than those on the ground, but emphasize that the effect is minimal compared to the speed of light.
  • One participant calculates time dilation effects using relativistic equations, indicating that the difference in aging would be negligible over a human lifetime.
  • Another participant humorously notes the appearance of older pilots, suggesting that their experience of G-forces might contribute to their youthful looks.
  • There is a question raised about whether centripetal forces from maneuvers in flight contribute to time dilation similarly to gravitational fields.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the feasibility of time travel, questioning the validity of claims regarding traveling around the Earth to go back in time.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the extent of time dilation experienced by pilots, with some agreeing that it exists but is insignificant, while others question the implications of high-speed travel on aging and time travel.

Contextual Notes

Discussions include various assumptions about speeds, G-forces, and the nature of time dilation, but do not resolve the complexities involved in these calculations or their implications for human experience.

kadAfi
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Well, We all know about Einstein Theory of Relativity.

The speed of light is constant.
And if someone travels close to the speed of light; time goes slower than someone walking on Earth etc.

Ok, this is my question. (Involves Pilots)

Ok, since pilots travel at amazing speeds of 1,000 - 3,000 miles or higher in Military Jet planes and commercial planes and they experience 3-6 times the G force of earth. Let's say a pilot is flying around the world for 24 Hours straight let's assume.

So, in those 24 hours traveling at those fast speeds. Does the pilot age a bit slower than normal human aging during that 24 hour period?

Explain.
 
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Originally posted by kadAfi
Well, We all know about Einstein Theory of Relativity.

The speed of light is constant.
And if someone travels close to the speed of light; time goes slower than someone walking on Earth etc.

Ok, this is my question. (Involves Pilots)

Ok, since pilots travel at amazing speeds of 1,000 - 3,000 miles or higher in Military Jet planes and commercial planes and they experience 3-6 times the G force of earth. Let's say a pilot is flying around the world for 24 Hours straight let's assume.

So, in those 24 hours traveling at those fast speeds. Does the pilot age a bit slower than normal human aging during that 24 hour period?

Explain.
I believe that the answer is yes, but only very very very very very very slightly. I mean, how does 3000 compare to 300000000? And then, in many cases, 90000000000000000? Not much at all.
 
The pilots i seen so young and they are very old.


Specially this 79 year old men looking like in his 40's year old.

But, the others around 50's


He must of pulled a lot of G's in his flights. ;)

hehe.
 
Originally posted by kadAfi
The pilots i seen so young and they are very old.


Specially this 79 year old men looking like in his 40's year old.

But, the others around 50's


He must of pulled a lot of G's in his flights. ;)

hehe.

*smacks forehead*

[tex] t = \tau\gamma [/tex]

[tex] \gamma = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}}[/tex]

[tex] <br /> v = 14432 \frac{meters}{sec}[/tex]

[tex] <br /> t = \frac{\tau}{\sqrt{1-\frac{14432^2}{299792456^2}}}<br /> = \frac{\tau}{\sqrt{1-2.317x10^{-9}}}[/tex]

[tex] <br /> = \frac{\tau}{0.99999999884127}<br /> = 1.0000000011587\tau[/tex]

given that the g forces are only experienced during acceleration and never exceed ten gs (for medical reasons) we can calculate:

[tex] ds^2 = 1-\frac{\frac{2GM}{c^2}}{R}dt^2[/tex]

[tex] ds = \sqrt{1-\frac{8.86112x10^{-3}}{6x10^24}}dt[/tex]

[tex] ds = \sqrt{1-1.47685x10^{-27}}dt[/tex]

that is for 1 g, which the coefficient is obviously insinificant. If we make the Earth ten times more massive(10 g basically) we get:

[tex] ds^2 = 1-\frac{\frac{2GM}{c^2}}{R}dt^2[/tex]

[tex] ds = \sqrt{1-\frac{8.86112x10^{-2}}{6x10^24}}dt[/tex]

[tex] ds = \sqrt{1-1.47685x10^{-26}}dt[/tex]

Which remains insignificant. Any added g forces will have essentially nil effect, the special relativisitc effects of the high velocity however are measurable by atomic clocks, but not significant in terms of a human lifetime or any amount of time recognizable by humans. For example if you lived a hundred years by your watch at that velocity some remote observer would measure 100.00000011587 years, which amounts to a net difference of 3 seconds over 100 years. Not much.
 
Last edited:
Originally posted by kadAfi
The pilots i seen so young and they are very old.


Specially this 79 year old men looking like in his 40's year old.

But, the others around 50's


He must of pulled a lot of G's in his flights. ;)

hehe.


HEY franznietzsche!

I did not typed that second post.

I was away from the computer and my little immature brother sat down and post that.. i think he deleted some of my files..

kids.. bah...
 
Originally posted by kadAfi
HEY franznietzsche!

I did not typed that second post.

I was away from the computer and my little immature brother sat down and post that.. i think he deleted some of my files..

kids.. bah...

meh, either way, was good exercise for me.

But yeah the pilot does age more slowly, just not much. Its very insignificant as the numers show.
 
Originally posted by kadAfi
HEY franznietzsche!

I did not typed that second post.

I was away from the computer and my little immature brother sat down and post that.. i think he deleted some of my files..

kids.. bah...

Hey! I'm going to use that the next time I suddenly realize that I had just said something stupid!
 
Originally posted by HallsofIvy
Hey! I'm going to use that the next time I suddenly realize that I had just said something stupid!

Hehe... GREAT idea! I'll use that too, except I'll blame it on my evil twin Skippy! :)

Zz.
 
hmm..


HallsofENVY you think you're some kind of physic?


Ook , ms cleooo^^^
 
  • #10
Damn. So, one would have to travel at a velocity 10.5 million times that of a jet for 100 years to "gain" a single year due to time dilation? That's if I even have my math right.
In any event, I can see that we don't fly jets for longevity.
 
  • #11
From Franz's post above - am I right in thinking that the centrapeital force experienced from loop de looping in a plane (or in any other way) contributes towards time dilation in the same fashion as being in a gravitational field?

Because I've never heard that before (my knowledge of special relativity is reasonable and of general, minimal.)
 
  • #12
Sir
if we travel around Earth in opposite motion for 20 yrs then could we can go to past
 
  • #13
SANDU said:
Sir
if we travel around Earth in opposite motion for 20 yrs then could we can go to past
A very strange assertion. Do you have any evidence to support it?
 
  • #14
HallsofIvy said:
A very strange assertion. Do you have any evidence to support it?

I think that was part of the plot of one of the Superman movies.
 
  • #15
SANDU said:
Sir
if we travel around Earth in opposite motion for 20 yrs then could we can go to past
No. You'll still be going into 'the future', regardless of your direction of travel.
 

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