How far does a photon move in the time dimension when it travels for one second?

[OpenSourceArts]

How far does a photon move in the time dimension when it travels for one second?
How far does a photon move in the spatial dimension when it travels for one second?

How far does a golf ball move in the time dimension when it stays stationary on a tee for one seceon?
How far does a golf ball move in the spatial dimensions when it stays stationary on a tee for one second?

 

[Mk]

How far does a photon move in the time dimension when it travels for one second?

1 second. When you say "how far," you imply distance, you're talking about a spatial dimension.

How far does a photon move in the spatial dimension when it travels for one second?

The speed of light in a vacuum is defined to be exactly 299,792,458 meters per second. In one second how far does it go?

How far does a golf ball move in the time dimension when it stays stationary on a tee for one seceon?
How far does a golf ball move in the spatial dimensions when it stays stationary on a tee for one second?

How far do you think the golf ball moved if it didn't move?
Are these homework questions? If so, you should post them in the Physics/Math Homework sections.

 

[OpenSourceArts]

Hello,

I thought that Einstein said that distance and time could be measured in the same units--that they are both dimensions.

Have you ever heard of relativity?

I think it's fairly famous.

 

[inha]

I thought that Einstein said that distance and time could be measured in the same units--that they are both dimensions.

I don't see any of the postulates of relativity translating directly to this. Spatial dimensions still have different units (or dimensions if you will) than time.

 

[JesseM]

How far does a photon move in the time dimension when it travels for one second?

What do you mean by "moving in the time dimension"? If you got this term from Brian Greene's book, you should know that his description of relativity is sort of idiosyncratic and not how relativity is usually described in textbooks. He defines "movement in the time dimension" in terms of the amount of time ticked on a clock which is moving in some frame as compared with the time ticked on a clock at rest in that frame. Since clocks appear to slow down as they approach the speed of light, then under this definition, the amount of "movement in the time dimension" would be zero.

How far does a photon move in the spatial dimension when it travels for one second?

One light-second, or 299,792,458 meters.

How far does a golf ball move in the time dimension when it stays stationary on a tee for one seceon?
How far does a golf ball move in the spatial dimensions when it stays stationary on a tee for one second?

Using Brian Greene's definition (which again, is not a standard one) the golf ball would have moved one second in the time dimension in the tee's rest frame, and 0 meters in the spatial dimension.

 

[HallsofIvy]

Hello,
I thought that Einstein said that distance and time could be measured in the same units--that they are both dimensions.
Have you ever heard of relativity?
I think it's fairly famous.

Yes, it is. You should look it up. Yes, Einstein said distance and time could be measured in the same units. He didn't say they should! For one thing, you would have to multiply by a factor of "i" to get back to standard time units (sec.). The answers Mk gave make the most sense.

 

[OpenSourceArts]

What do you mean by "moving in the time dimension"? If you got this term from Brian Greene's book, you should know that his description of relativity is sort of idiosyncratic and not how relativity is usually described in textbooks. He defines "movement in the time dimension" in terms of the amount of time ticked on a clock which is moving in some frame as compared with the time ticked on a clock at rest in that frame. Since clocks appear to slow down as they approach the speed of light, then under this definition, the amount of "movement in the time dimension" would be zero. One light-second, or 299,792,458 meters. Using Brian Greene's definition (which again, is not a standard one) the golf ball would have moved one second in the time dimension in the tee's rest frame, and 0 meters in the spatial dimension.

So you're saying that Brain Greene and Einstein are wrong?

Briane Greene never contradicts Einstein, so if he is wrong then Einstein is wrong.

Do any of you idiots have brains?

 

[Doc Al]

Please refrain from insulting our members and advisors. (Especially when your knowledge of relativity comes from reading a pop science book!)

Nonetheless, it is common when drawing space-time diagrams to use the same units to measure time and space. One measures time in units of length by multiplying the time by the speed of light (a universal constant). I think this is what you are talking about. (Talking about "how far" something moves in the "time dimension" makes it sound much more mysterious than it is.)

So one second of time equals one light-second of "distance" in the "time-dimension". (One "light-second" = 3x10^8 meters.) Don't read too much deep meaning into this.

You can also measure time in standard time units (like seconds) but measure distance in units of light-seconds. Again, this just makes it easier to draw diagrams and discuss relativistic effects.

 

[OpenSourceArts]

Hello Doc Al

Thanks for giving a correct statement. I do appreiate it.

Here are the pop science books which have taught me about relativity:

Einsteins' Meaning of Relativity
Wheeler & Taylor's Spacetime Physics
Misner, Wheeler, Thorne's Gravitation

I do hope that these pop physics books are up the standards of these forums.

The reason that time and space can be measured in the same units is not for the sake of pretty pictures, but because they are both one and the same thing on a fundamental level.

Doc Al--do you have a Ph.D.? If so, where from?

 

[Doc Al]

Here are the pop science books which have taught me about relativity:

Einsteins' Meaning of Relativity
Wheeler & Taylor's Spacetime Physics
Misner, Wheeler, Thorne's Gravitation

I don't for a second believe you've even cracked the cover of those books.

Doc Al--do you have a Ph.D.?

Yes, but so what?

 

[Astronuc]

The reason that time and space can be measured in the same units is not for the sake of pretty pictures, but because they are both one and the same thing on a fundamental level

Perhaps in the sense that they are coordinates in space-time, but the relationship between time and the spatial dimensions is different than the relationships among the spatial coordinates.

 

[OpenSourceArts]

I don't for a second believe you've even cracked the cover of those books.
Yes, but so what?

Why don't you believe that I've read those books?

I actually edited a book on space time physics.

This site is an embarrassment to physics.

 

[rho]

Maybe Doc Al has read them and feels you would have a better understanding of relativity than your posts show if you had also read them?

 

[OpenSourceArts]

rho--what don't I understand about relativity?

why is everyone so negative on these boards?

Merry Xmas everyone.

 

[quantumdude]

Yes, Einstein said distance and time could be measured in the same units. He didn't say they should! For one thing, you would have to multiply by a factor of "i" to get back to standard time units (sec.).

You mean a factor of "c", right? Well regardless, "c" is the correct factor!

 

[Pengwuino]

Do any of you idiots have brains?

This site is an embarrassment to physics.

why is everyone so negative on these boards?

You're a smart guy, I've collected all the data for you!

 

[quantumdude]

why is everyone so negative on these boards?

We aren't negative. We do however have a history of taking negatively to smartass trolls who come here to play games.

I don't believe that you are really seeking help, so I see no need to keep a thread open in our Homework Help section. Go play somewhere else.

*lock*