Is this the reason why time slows down as speed increases?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of time dilation as speed increases, particularly in relation to the behavior of electrons and their orbits around atomic nuclei. Participants explore theoretical implications of relativity, quantum mechanics, and the interpretation of various models.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that electrons orbit the nucleus at light speed, while others refute this claim, stating that electrons do not travel at the speed of light and that their behavior is more complex.
  • A participant proposes that as an atom approaches light speed, the time it takes for electrons to complete their orbits increases, potentially leading to a perception of time slowing down.
  • There is mention of the historical context of the Bohr model, with some participants arguing that it is outdated and not consistent with modern quantum mechanics.
  • Some participants discuss the concept of relativistic velocity addition and its implications for understanding time dilation.
  • One participant references a documentary that illustrates time dilation using an oscillating particle, questioning how this relates to the perception of time at high speeds.
  • Another participant emphasizes the need for clarity in discussing different speeds related to electrons, such as orbital speed versus drift velocity.
  • There is a discussion about the light clock as a tool for understanding time dilation, with one participant suggesting a different orientation for the light clock to illustrate time stillness.
  • Participants note that time dilation is reciprocal; each observer perceives the other's time as dilated when moving at high speeds.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views on the behavior of electrons and the implications of relativity, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved. There is no consensus on the correctness of the initial claims regarding electron speeds and their relation to time perception.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the potential misunderstanding of electron behavior in quantum mechanics, the historical context of atomic models, and the need for precise definitions when discussing speeds related to electrons and time dilation.

farolero
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ok so einstein considered there's a maximum speed in the universe which can not be traspassed and that electrons go at this speed

electrons make orbits around the nucleus at light speed

if you make the atom go close to light speed the elcetrons in its rotation will go at light speed one half and at light speed minus spaceship speed in the other half so electrons will complete revolutions around the nucleus at a slower rate than usual

in fact if you reach light speed electrons will go at light speed one half and at zero speed the other half so they will stop completing revolutions and time perception will be zero

is this correct or am i wrong?
 
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farolero said:
electrons make orbits around the nucleus at light speed
No they don't.

You need to look up "relativistic velocity addition" as well.

Edit: Also, a textbook on quantum physics might be a good idea.
 
but here it says that electricity caused by the electrons movement its lightspeed for what einstein knew:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/what-is-the-speed-of-electricity.79645/

" If you calculate the instantaneous speed of electron
using the theoretical models, it comes out to be the velocity
of light."
maybe i should have said quantum orbits

what i told i saw it in a documental

maybe i explained it wrong:

electrons can't trespass certain speed and as the speed of the ship increases it takes the electron more time to complete a revolution, completing zero revolutions per second at light speed
 
Last edited:
farolero said:
ok so einstein considered there's a maximum speed in the universe which can not be traspassed and that electrons go at this speed

No, electrons do not go at this speed. In a vacuum, electric fields propagate at this speed.

electrons make orbits around the nucleus at light speed

In 1913 there was a theory that electrons make orbits around the nucleus, but their speed was not the speed of light. That theory worked as an explanation of some things, but it was soon realized that it wasn't consistent and it wasn't able to explain other things. By the 1920's it was outdated, but unfortunately it's still taught in school as the Bohr atom.

if you make the atom go close to light speed the elcetrons in its rotation will go at light speed one half and at light speed minus spaceship speed in the other half so electrons will complete revolutions around the nucleus at a slower rate than usual

If an atom is moving relative to you, that's equivalent to you moving relative to it. An atom's behavior doesn't change just because someone happens to be moving relative to it.
 
farolero said:
electrons make orbits around the nucleus at light speed
No, they don't. In QM it is tricky to even pose the question correctly, but in the Bohr model the electron orbits at ##c\alpha##
 
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farolero said:
but here it says that electricity caused by the electrons movement its lightspeed for what einstein knew:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/what-is-the-speed-of-electricity.79645/

" If you calculate the instantaneous speed of electron
using the theoretical models, it comes out to be the velocity
of light."
And the very next sentence after that says...? And the immediately following post by ZapperZ says...?

electrons can't trespass certain speed and as the speed of the ship increases it takes the electron more time to complete a revolution, completing zero revolutions per second at light speed
Nothing with mass can move at light speed. And electrons don't orbit in the sense you mean. Go and google for the "light clock" which is the standard way of deriving relativistic phenomena like time dilation. You don't need any maths beyond Pythagoras' Theorem.
 
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anyway i just took a glance on that documental on relativity

it shew an oscilating particle and as the speed of the platform in which it was got close to the speed particle it would go slower as i explained

i think if the components of your atoms go slower youll age slower and thinks slower

how could this explain the slowing of time perception as speed increases?
 
farolero said:
but here it says that electricity caused by the electrons movement its lightspeed for what einstein knew:
You have to be very specific about what speed you are talking about. The orbital speed, the drift velocity, the Fermi velocity, the group velocity of the field, ...

That thread was a huge mess of people talking about different things. I would not make any conclusions from it other than nire clarity was needed.
 
wow thanks a lot the light clock is very interesting indeed

maybe what i saw in the documental was the light clock

but wouldn't be better to set the light clock 90º offset as i missremember to show time stillness?

also with pithagoras you could calculate time dillation in function of speed i guess?
 
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farolero said:
how could this explain the slowing of time perception as speed increases?

Whatever your explanation, it must be consistent with the Principle of Relativity. If someone passes by you at high speed, that is equivalent to him standing still and you passing by him at high speed.

Time dilation is something each of you will observe about the other. It is not something either of you will observe about yourselves.
 
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