Can Placing Earth Between 3 Black Holes Slow Down Time?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of time dilation in the context of placing Earth equidistant from three spinning black holes. Participants explore whether this arrangement would affect the passage of time on Earth and the implications for human lifespan.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant wonders if being equidistant from three black holes would slow down time on Earth due to time dilation, suggesting it could extend human life.
  • Another participant argues that time dilation occurs relative to observers far from the black hole, and that for those on Earth, time would pass normally, negating any perceived benefit.
  • A later reply reiterates the idea that time dilation is not directly experienced and introduces the concept of differential aging, where someone traveling near a black hole could return younger than those who remained on Earth.
  • Some participants express a sense of disappointment regarding the implications of time dilation, noting that one cannot experience more time while aging less.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the necessity of three black holes and the nature of time dilation. There is no consensus on whether the proposed scenario would yield any benefits regarding time perception or lifespan.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the effects of time dilation and differential aging without resolving the complexities of these concepts or their implications in the proposed scenario.

Joe Bond
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I am just wondering if placing the Earth equidistant from 3 black holes that are spinnng would slow down time on the Earth, due to the time dilation effect. Would that give us more time to live?
 
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Why do you need three? Being in orbit around one would do. And it only slows down the passage of time relative to observers far away from the black hole. For the inhabitants of Earth time would seem to pass normally. Nobody would have gained any extra time to watch Netflix before they died.
 
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Joe Bond said:
I am just wondering if placing the Earth equidistant from 3 black holes that are spinnng would slow down time on the Earth, due to the time dilation effect. Would that give us more time to live?
Assuming of course we aren't past the event horizon yet we are relatively close
 
Bandersnatch said:
Why do you need three? Being in orbit around one would do. And it only slows down the passage of time relative to observers far away from the black hole. For the inhabitants of Earth time would seem to pass normally. Nobody would have gained any extra time to watch Netflix before they died.
oh I see, that's sad. Thank you for your reply
 
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Joe Bond said:
oh I see, that's sad. Thank you for your reply
Time dilation isn't something that you directly experience. Instead, the special and general theories of relativity entail something called differential ageing. This means that if you go and spend some time close to a black hole and then return, you may well be significant younger than someone who stayed at home. The reason for this is that you have taken a shorter path through spacetime. The length of your path through spacetime is precisely the amount of proper time that has elapsed for you. Proper time is what you experience.

So, although when you return you may be younger than the friends you left behind, you have literally experienced less time. In that sense you can't directly get the best of both worlds by ageing less yet experiencing the same amount of time to enjoy life. You need herbal remedies for that!
 
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PeroK said:
Time dilation isn't something that you directly experience. Instead, the special and general theories of relativity entail something called differential ageing. This means that if you go and spend some time close to a black hole and then return, you may well be significant younger than someone who stayed at home. The reason for this is that you have taken a shorter path through spacetime. The length of your path through spacetime is precisely the amount of proper time that has elapsed for you. Proper time is what you experience.

So, although when you return you may be younger than the friends you left behind, you have literally experienced less time. In that sense you can't directly get the best of both worlds by ageing less yet experiencing the same amount of time to enjoy life. You need herbal remedies for that!
thank you for your reply
 
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