How Can Initial Distance Affect Time Calculations in Spacetime Problems?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem related to spacetime and the effects of initial distance on time calculations, particularly in the context of a transmission scenario involving a character named Samantha. Participants are exploring how the initial distance impacts the time taken for transmission and the aging of the character during the process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants express uncertainty about how to approach parts of the problem, particularly regarding the implications of initial distance on time calculations. Some question the relationship between the time taken for transmission and the aging of the character. Others attempt to clarify the differences between various parts of the problem.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights and questioning each other's reasoning. Some guidance has been offered regarding the interpretation of the problem, but there is no explicit consensus on the implications of the findings, especially concerning part (e).

Contextual Notes

Participants are grappling with the assumptions related to the aging process during transmission and the relevance of relative velocities in the context of the problem. There is mention of specific homework rules and the need for clarity in understanding the problem's requirements.

athrun200
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Homework Statement



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Homework Equations




The Attempt at a Solution


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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?
 

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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.
 

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