How Can Initial Distance Affect Time Calculations in Spacetime Problems?

  • Thread starter Thread starter athrun200
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
Initial distance plays a crucial role in time calculations in spacetime problems, particularly in understanding how aging is perceived during transmission. In the discussion, it is clarified that the transmission process creates an identical copy of the original, maintaining the same age regardless of the distance traveled. The difference between parts (b) and (e) lies in the object's movement, affecting the time taken to reach the destination, but not the aging of the transported individual. The participants conclude that the time taken for the journey does not influence how much the transported individual ages, as local clocks advance uniformly. Ultimately, the discussion emphasizes that objects moving at the speed of light do not age, reinforcing the principles of relativity in spacetime scenarios.
athrun200
Messages
275
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



attachment.php?attachmentid=37963&stc=1&d=1313229563.jpg


Homework Equations




The Attempt at a Solution


attachment.php?attachmentid=37964&stc=1&d=1313229563.jpg


I am not sure for part a and part e. Especially for part e, without the initial distance, how can I find the time?

Can you also help me to check whether my answers are correct?
 

Attachments

  • 1.jpg
    1.jpg
    25.7 KB · Views: 443
  • 3.jpg
    3.jpg
    18.7 KB · Views: 445
Physics news on Phys.org
Your initial work is unnecessary for answering part (a). The problem states that "transmission produces a Samantha identical to the original in every respect"; in particular, that means she's the same age when she is transmitted from Earth and when she is reassembled on Zircon.

Your answers to b, c, and d are correct. Your work for part (e) completely misses the mark. I'm not sure what you're doing there.
 
vela said:
Your initial work is unnecessary for answering part (a). The problem states that "transmission produces a Samantha identical to the original in every respect"; in particular, that means she's the same age when she is transmitted from Earth and when she is reassembled on Zircon.

Your answers to b, c, and d are correct. Your work for part (e) completely misses the mark. I'm not sure what you're doing there.

In fact I don't know how to complete part e, I just try sometime seem possible.
Can you help me with part e?
 
Part (e) is asking the same question as part (b). What's the difference between the two cases?
 
vela said:
Part (e) is asking the same question as part (b). What's the difference between the two cases?

They are different.
In part b, the object doesn't move, however in part e, it does.
So the time taken to reach the destination in part e is longer than part b, and the question is I don't know how long does it take.
 
Did the time taken to reach and return from Zircon affect how much Samantha aged?
 
vela said:
Did the time taken to reach and return from Zircon affect how much Samantha aged?

Oh... I understand now thanks
 
Do you? The answer to (e) isn't 1 year if that's what you're thinking.
 
Why?
The time taken to reach and return from Zircon won't affect the age, I think.

It seems it is very difficult for me...
 
  • #10
Unchanged data doesn't "age"

Questions (a) through (d) include no relative velocities, so the Lorentz transform is unneeded and the solutions are simple.

Question (e) makes it clear that the transporternaut sees local clocks advance by one year, therefore that transporternaut ages one year. Since that is what the question asks, the Lorentz transform is unneeded there, also.
 
  • #11
fleem said:
Question (e) makes it clear that the transporternaut sees local clocks advance by one year, therefore that transporternaut ages one year. Since that is what the question asks, the Lorentz transform is unneeded there, also.
Oops. Yes, fleem's right. Sorry, athrun, I misled you.
 
  • #12
Oh thank everyone!
By doing this question, it seems I can get a conclusion.
Everythings move in speed of light do not age.

It is correct?
 
  • #13
athrun200 said:
Oh thank everyone!
By doing this question, it seems I can get a conclusion.
Everythings move in speed of light do not age.

It is correct?

Correct.

Not only that, but in this case even if the data moved slower than light one could argue that it does not age, because the data (presumably) does not change.
 
Back
Top