Can Spaceships Reach Light Speed Due to Permeability and Permittivity?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of special relativity on time perception for observers in different reference frames, particularly in the context of a spaceship traveling at speeds close to light. Participants explore concepts such as the twin paradox, acceleration, and the relationship between permeability, permittivity, and the speed of light.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question why time on a planet does not appear to slow from the perspective of a spaceship accelerating away from it.
  • Others assert that, according to special relativity, each observer sees the other as slowing down, raising questions about the twin paradox.
  • One participant emphasizes that special relativity applies only to inertial reference frames, suggesting that the acceleration of the spaceship distinguishes the two observers' experiences.
  • Another participant proposes a scenario where the spaceship is perceived as slowing down rather than accelerating, prompting a discussion about the implications of relative motion.
  • Some participants discuss the concept of the universe being perceived as stationary while the spaceship accelerates, and whether the opposite perspective is possible.
  • A later post introduces the relationship between permeability, permittivity, and the speed of light, suggesting that these properties affect the speed attainable by a rocket.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of special relativity, the twin paradox, and the nature of acceleration. There is no consensus on these topics, and multiple competing interpretations are present.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions hinge on the definitions of inertial and non-inertial reference frames, as well as the assumptions regarding the properties of matter and vacuum in relation to the speed of light.

mee
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Why does the time on the planet left not appear to slow from the spaceship as it is accelerating at great speed away from the spaceship, relative to the spaceships perception. I mean, could traveling at close to light speed also be viewed as slowing down the spaceship more and more so that the rest of the universe, traveling at close to light speed, rapidly moves in relation to the now practically "still" spaceship.
 
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mee said:
Why does the time on the planet left not appear to slow from the spaceship as it is accelerating at great speed away from the spaceship, relative to the spaceships perception.

As I understand it, it does. Special Relativity states that each observer (the one on the ship and the one on the planet) will see the other slowing down.
 
twin paradox

LURCH said:
As I understand it, it does. Special Relativity states that each observer (the one on the ship and the one on the planet) will see the other slowing down.

So how does the twin paradox hold up if both slow down relative to the other? -Feeling ignorant.
:smile:
 


One important property most people miss while discussing the twins paradox is that Special Relativity only applies for inertial reference frames, in other words it does not deal with change of reference frames or non inertial reference frames.

So, suppose observer A stays on earth, and observer B aboard the spaceship traveling close to the speed of light to a distant star and back. The fact is, there is no contradiction.

While it is true that both are slowing down relative to each other, it is important to realize, it is impossible for observer A to tell whether he/she is moving since he/she is always traveling at a constant speed while observer B can tell whether he/she is moving due to acceleration, in fact observer B undergoes a transition of inertial reference frames by acceleration. So it is possible to distinguish the type of reference frames observer A and B are in and hence apply special relativity to the appropriate reference frame (in this case it only applies to observer A). Therefore there would be an apparent age difference between observer A and B.
 
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?

What if the spaceship is not seen as accelerating but as slowing down more and more until it reaches a certain speed and stops, the rest of the universe now seen as moving at a great speed in relation. Are you saying that if the whole universe were moving at close to the speed of light in a particular direction that its inertial reference frame would be to make it as if it were still as it is not accelerating?
 
Yes, the universe would continue as though it were not moving. And in reality, it isn't. When you say,
What if the spaceship is not seen as accelerating but as slowing down more and more until it reaches a certain speed and stops, the rest of the universe now seen as moving at a great speed in relation.
, You are giving an accurate description of what's really happeneing. Any change in volocity is an acceleration. To say that the universe is holding still while the ship accelerates is no different than saying that the ship decelerates while the universe continues on at a constant volocity.
 
LURCH said:
Yes, the universe would continue as though it were not moving. And in reality, it isn't. When you say,, You are giving an accurate description of what's really happeneing. Any change in volocity is an acceleration. To say that the universe is holding still while the ship accelerates is no different than saying that the ship decelerates while the universe continues on at a constant volocity.

What if the universe is seen as accelerating and the ship is seen as standing still? Is that possible?
 
All things in the universe, including the vacuum, possesses the dual inseparable properties of permeability, [itex]\mu[/itex] and permittivity, [itex]\epsilon[/itex]. The speed of light c is determined by these physical variables.

[tex]c = \frac{1}{\sqrt{\mu \epsilon}}[/tex]

The reason that the speed of light is a constant in vacuum is because the permeability and permittivity of vacuum are constants.

The rocket is made of matter. So it has its own unique values of permeability and permittivity. Their values also determined the speed attainable by the rocket. When these values are the same as that of the vacuum then and only then can the rocket attain light speed of 186,000 mi/s.
 

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