How would a trampoline solve the twin paradox in relativity?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the twin paradox in relativity, specifically exploring a hypothetical scenario involving a trampoline that could allow a spaceship to maintain its velocity without experiencing deceleration. Participants examine the implications of this scenario on the resolution of the paradox.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes the twin paradox, noting that it involves one twin traveling at high speed and the resolution involving acceleration and turning around.
  • Another participant questions the feasibility of using a trampoline to eliminate acceleration, stating that a trampoline does not remove the need for acceleration.
  • A participant suggests a hypothetical mechanism that could allow the ship to maintain its velocity without deceleration, acknowledging that such a mechanism does not exist but is exploring theoretical implications.
  • One participant emphasizes that a change in velocity inherently involves acceleration, challenging the idea of maintaining velocity without it.
  • Another participant argues that reducing the time of energy transfer does not decrease the energy used, highlighting the relationship between energy transfer rate and time.
  • A later reply reiterates that the definitions of acceleration and velocity change are fundamental, asserting that turning around involves acceleration by definition.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the hypothetical trampoline scenario, with some arguing that acceleration cannot be eliminated while others explore the implications of such a mechanism. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the validity of the proposed scenario and its impact on the twin paradox.

Contextual Notes

The discussion involves hypothetical scenarios that challenge established definitions in physics, particularly regarding acceleration and velocity changes. Participants express uncertainty about the implications of their proposals on the twin paradox.

BobSanchez
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So we have covered relativity a couple weeks ago and I've been thinking about the twin paradox. It is when one twin travels on a high speed ship to some distant planet and back. But since all frames of reference are equivalent, each twin measures the other to be younger. My book explained that the paradox was solved because of the acceleration and turning around of the one ship and the fact that its speed is not entirely constant.

So my question is, since we are dealing with hypothetical near the speed of light velocity. What if we had a huge trampoline or something such that the ship could just bounce directly off and maintain its velocity without experiencing deceleration. Wouldn't this leave us with the original paradox?

I hope that makes sense...I am just not very satisfied with the resolution offered to me.
 
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BobSanchez said:
What if we had a huge trampoline or something such that the ship could just bounce directly off and maintain its velocity without experiencing deceleration.
Huh? A trampoline doesn't eliminate acceleration.
 
I'm just saying a hypothetical mechanism that can eliminate the acceleration and just shoot the ship back at the same velocity without the whole stopping, turning, etc. If there must be some transfer in energy, it would be insignificant and extremely brief.

I know there is no such mechanism, but we are working with hypothetics
 
1] The net result of the thought experiment is that velocity A is turned into velocity B (probably -A but not necessary).

2] The definition of acceleration is a change in velocity.

Considering nothing else, you can see that it is futile to try to imagine how you could - even in principle - have 1] without 2].
 
BobSanchez said:
I'm just saying a hypothetical mechanism that can eliminate the acceleration and just shoot the ship back at the same velocity without the whole stopping, turning, etc. If there must be some transfer in energy, it would be insignificant and extremely brief.
Doing it quickly does not use less energy. It actually makes the rate of transfer arbitrarily large. Reduce the time of transfer from 1000 senconds to 1 second and you increase the rate of transfer by a thousand fold. (Since "rate" is simply total amount transferred divided by time)
 
BobSanchez said:
I know there is no such mechanism, but we are working with hypothetics
It has nothing to do with mechanisms, as DaveC mentions, it is just definitions. If the twin turns around then he accelerated by definition.
 
Got it! Thanks. That makes sense, I don't know what I was thinking. Relativity is just such an absurd concept!
 

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