C Speed, Gravitational Time Dilation & 4-Velocity

In summary, mass does not change the four velocity, it is a unit vector, and the magnitude of the four velocity is constant in general relativity.
  • #1
sawer
65
2
Hi

1-)If an object's total velocity through space-time(four-velocity)is c, for example even we stand still we move with velocity c (through time) and if mass slows down time, can we say mass also increase our velocity in space?

2-) Is Four-velocity magnitude constant in General Relativity? Does gravitational time dilation increase velocity in space dimension while slows speed of time flow?
 
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  • #2
You are mixing statements that apply to different reference frames here.

Mass influences spacetime around it. In some aspects this can be interpreted as slowing down time as seen from observers far away, but also slowing down the speed of light because everything happens slower.
sawer said:
can we say mass also increase our velocity in space?
No.
sawer said:
Is Four-velocity magnitude constant in General Relativity?
Locally space always looks like it does in special relativity. If you consider a process locally nothing changes. If you ask "what does X think about Y" then things start to depend on your favorite reference frame.
 
  • #3
sawer said:
Hi

1-)If an object's total velocity through space-time(four-velocity)is c, for example even we stand still we move with velocity c (through time) and if mass slows down time, can we say mass also increase our velocity in space?

2-) Is Four-velocity magnitude constant in General Relativity? Does gravitational time dilation increase velocity in space dimension while slows speed of time flow?
The constant magnitude of the four velocity is not a particularly meaningful thing. I know that a lot of pop-sci sources present it as some sort of big “wow” thing, but it really isn’t.

Geometrically, the four velocity is just the unit tangent vector to your worldline. Unit vectors, by definition, have unit length. And in relativity the unit of speed is c. So the magnitude of the four velocity is c just because it is a unit vector.

For your specific question, no, mass does not change the unit vector. And no, it is more complicated than that. The determination of what is a unit vector depends on the metric, so a gravitational field can influence the components of the four-velocity but it can be more complicated
 
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What is C Speed?

C Speed, also known as the speed of light, is a fundamental constant in physics that represents the maximum speed at which all matter and information in the universe can travel.

How does gravitational time dilation work?

Gravitational time dilation is a phenomenon in which time passes more slowly in the presence of a strong gravitational field. This is due to the curvature of space-time caused by massive objects, which affects the flow of time.

What is 4-velocity?

4-velocity is a vector quantity in special relativity that combines the concepts of space and time into a single four-dimensional vector. It represents the rate at which an object is moving through space-time.

Why is the speed of light considered a universal speed limit?

The speed of light is considered a universal speed limit because it is the maximum speed at which energy, matter, and information can travel. This is due to the fact that the laws of physics, specifically the principles of special relativity, prevent anything from traveling faster than the speed of light.

How do C Speed, gravitational time dilation, and 4-velocity relate to each other?

C Speed, gravitational time dilation, and 4-velocity are all concepts that are related to the fundamental principles of space and time in physics. The speed of light is a constant that affects both the concept of time dilation and the calculation of 4-velocity, as it is used to determine the maximum possible speed of an object. Gravitational time dilation also affects 4-velocity, as the curvature of space-time caused by gravity can impact the rate at which an object is moving through space-time.

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