Riddle Me This: Vibrating at Light Speed & Time Travel

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of time dilation in the context of traveling at speeds close to that of light, specifically exploring the implications of "vibrating at light speed" and its effects on the perception of time. Participants engage with theoretical scenarios, including the Twin Paradox, and examine the nature of time as experienced by individuals in different frames of reference.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Mahmoud questions whether vibrating at near light speed would result in time passing faster for the individual while their surroundings experience time at the same rate.
  • One participant asserts that time always passes at the same rate for an individual, challenging the notion of time passing faster based on speed.
  • Another participant describes a scenario where traveling at 0.9999c would lead to significant time dilation, with Earth aging much faster than the traveler.
  • A further example is provided involving the Twin Paradox, illustrating how one twin traveling at near light speeds would age less than the twin remaining on Earth.
  • A participant reiterates that the original question about vibrating at light speed does not lead to the effect of time passing faster for the individual.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the initial premise of time passing faster for an individual vibrating at light speed. While some clarify the effects of time dilation, there is no consensus on the interpretation of the original question.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the nature of time and the effects of speed on time perception remain unresolved. The discussion includes references to theoretical concepts without definitive conclusions.

SpanishOmelette
Messages
19
Reaction score
2
Riddle me this.

If it was possible to vibrate at near the speed of light, would that still create the effect of time passing faster for you but your surrounding passing through time at the same rate?

Just wondering. I am aware that A) Time travel backwards would not function, due to the Symmetry T no longer truth, and B) Simply landing yourself in time would not work.

Any answers?:

Mahmoud.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Nothing creates the effect of time passing faster for you, where did you get this idea from? Your time always passes at the same rate, full stop.
I'm not even going to consider the effects of "vibrating at the speed of light" . . . it's just too insane.
 
If you were to jump in a shuttle and accelerate to .9999c in a tight loop, say around the Moon and back, you would undergo enough time dilation that the Earth would age 70 times faster than you. Not sure about your vibration idea.
 
Consider a simpler case, you have a twin on the Earth.

Normally you would both age at the same rate and iIn a sense, you are both acting as clocks.

You choose to get in a spaceship and travel at near light speeds to a nearby star system and back.

You could do this trip over and over again in effect acting as a slow vibrating particle.

The result is the same though your twin will age more than you based on your travel speed and length of
your trip in total.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_paradox
 
SpanishOmelette said:
If it was possible to vibrate at near the speed of light, would that still create the effect of time passing faster for you but your surrounding passing through time at the same rate?

No.

However, if you do a google search for "Twin Paradox" (the FAQ at http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/SR/TwinParadox/twin_paradox.html is particularly good) you'll find some examples of what is, at least in principle, possible.

As the original question has been answered, this thread is closed.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 51 ·
2
Replies
51
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 65 ·
3
Replies
65
Views
13K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
4K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
4K
  • · Replies 51 ·
2
Replies
51
Views
5K