Can Time Dilation from Special Relativity Unlock Superpowers?

[Englishman]

Based on time dilation from special relativity, will we be able to utilise the effects, thereby granting us tremendous abilities? Will we be able to move out of the realm of science fiction?

 

[russ_watters]

I'm not sure what you are getting at, but there isn't really anything science fictiony about time dilation. Technologically, time dilation is a little bit of an annoyance, but not much more than that.

 

[HallsofIvy]

What "tremendous abilities" did you have in mind?

 

[Meir Achuz]

Based on time dilation from special relativity, will we be able to utilise the effects, thereby granting us tremendous abilities? Will we be able to move out of the realm of science fiction?

No...

 

[Englishman]

What "tremendous abilities" did you have in mind?

I don't know, like perhaps, running incredibly fast relative to others?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Since you would already have to be moving incredibly fast to have the time dilation, they wouldn't notice!

If you were moving at, say .9c in a space ship, relative to some other person, and could look at each other, while you are walking along your space ship, they walking along their frame, they would see you walking slowly because your time has "dilated" relative to them and you would see them moving at .9c relative to you and would see them walking slowly for exactly the same reason.

 

[Englishman]

Since you would already have to be moving incredibly fast to have the time dilation, they wouldn't notice!

If you were moving at, say .9c in a space ship, relative to some other person, and could look at each other, while you are walking along your space ship, they walking along their frame, they would see you walking slowly because your time has "dilated" relative to them and you would see them moving at .9c relative to you and would see them walking slowly for exactly the same reason.

So there is nothing to be gained from learning about time dilation and the Lorentz contraction, except the accumulation of knowledge of them?

 

[russ_watters]

So there is nothing to be gained from learning about time dilation and the Lorentz contraction, except the accumulation of knowledge of them?

I'm not sure how you would get that from what was said. The concepts are extremely important for devices that require precise time calculations or speed calculations, for example (like GPS satellites). It's just that that isn't what I'd call a "tremendous ability".

 

[HallsofIvy]

"How do I make a buck off it?"

 

[Englishman]

I'm not sure how you would get that from what was said. The concepts are extremely important for devices that require precise time calculations or speed calculations, for example (like GPS satellites). It's just that that isn't what I'd call a "tremendous ability".

Oh yeah. I forgot.