Is speed of time c, atleast for someone travelling at speed of light?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of the "speed of time" in relation to the speed of light, particularly whether time ceases to progress for an observer traveling at the speed of light. Participants explore theoretical implications, mathematical interpretations, and the nature of time dilation in the context of relativity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that as speed increases, time dilation occurs, and at the speed of light, time ceases to progress from that observer's perspective.
  • Another participant questions the definition of "speed of time," indicating a need for clarity in the discussion.
  • A later reply proposes that everything advances through space-time at the speed of light, suggesting that time ceases because the observer is traveling at the same rate as time changes.
  • There is a challenge regarding the use of "we" as both the observer and the moving object, emphasizing the need to distinguish between coordinate time and proper time in the discussion.
  • Mathematical relationships are referenced, indicating a connection between coordinate time, proper time, and spatial movement, but without consensus on interpretation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the concept of "speed of time" or the implications of traveling at the speed of light. Multiple competing views and interpretations remain present in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the definitions of time and the perspectives of observers. The mathematical relationships mentioned are not fully resolved, and assumptions about the nature of time and speed are not universally agreed upon.

aaryan0077
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Okay, I know there are many threads about this and I checked some
like
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=38157" and some more, but I don't found what I was looking for.
Okay, let say we have a light cone http://img7.yfrog.com/img7/6463/lightcone3.jpg
Where Vertical and horizontal axis representing time and space respectively
and L1, L2 & L3 represent path allowed for massive bodies, light and path not allowed respectively.
We travel at a speed that relates to path L1.
If we are stationary we'll just go through time, but no space.
Now, let's say we start to increase speed and time starts to dilates.
The more speed the more dilation.
At speed of light (which I know to reach is not possible atleast until we have much more advance technology) time ceases.
Why?
Because equations shows it.
But what if we look at it in a different way? Time ceases because we are traveling at the rate at which time changes..
So, as we are also changing at the same rate, the time doesn't change according to our perspective.
Does this means that time travels at speed of light?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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define "speed of time"
 
malawi_glenn said:
define "speed of time"

Sorry, you replied too early, and it's not your fault but mine.
I pressed enter just after typing first line, (and you thought it's the whole question).
I had to edit the post. Now, look its a bit different from what you'd seen earlier. :smile:
 
aaryan0077 said:
At speed of light (which I know to reach is not possible atleast until we have much more advance technology) time ceases.
Why?
Because equations shows it.
But what if we look at it in a different way? Time ceases because we are traveling at the rate at which time changes...
That is the idea that everything advances trough space-(proper)time at c. And the speed in space and in proper-time(aging) are just the projections of that advancement. Visualized here:
http://www.adamtoons.de/physics/relativity.swf
aaryan0077 said:
So, as we are also changing at the same rate, the time doesn't change according to our perspective.
No, according to our perspective, we are never moving and time always runs normally. You are very confusing by using "we" as the observer and the moving object. And you never say which time you mean: clock stationary to observer(coordinate time) or moving with the observed object (objects proper time). But I guess you mean the above mentioned geometrical interpretation of the relationship:

(delta_coordinate_time * c)2 = (delta_proper_time * c )2 + delta_space2
 

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