What speed and direction are we actually traveling?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Amazingly Andrew
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Direction Speed
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the complexities of motion, speed, and time dilation in the context of traveling at relativistic speeds, particularly in relation to the Earth’s motion through space and the implications for aging. Participants explore theoretical scenarios of space travel and the relative nature of motion and reference frames.

Discussion Character

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

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about the direction and speed of travel in a spaceship at half the speed of light, questioning how Earth's motion affects this and the implications for aging relative to time on Earth.
  • Another participant states that all motion is relative, indicating that there is no absolute speed for the Earth through the universe, and only relative motion to Earth matters.
  • Some participants discuss the lack of a fixed reference point for measuring speed in the universe, suggesting that all speeds are measured relative to arbitrarily chosen stationary references.
  • There is mention of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) as a potential reference frame, though it is noted that one is not obligated to use it.
  • Participants explore the difference between traveling away from Earth at half the speed of light versus both traveling away from each other at a quarter of light speed, discussing how relative velocities do not add linearly in special relativity.
  • One participant highlights that changing inertial frames through acceleration creates an asymmetry in aging, emphasizing that without acceleration, one cannot compare ages meaningfully.
  • Another participant introduces a perspective that relativity may restore a notion of absolute motion, but not in the traditional sense of motion through space over time.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the relative nature of motion and the lack of a fixed reference frame, but there are competing views on the implications of acceleration and the interpretation of relativity. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the nuances of these concepts.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on definitions of motion and reference frames, as well as unresolved questions about the implications of different speeds and directions in the context of time dilation and aging.

  • #61
Thread will remain closed for now. Here is a helpful comment in the Mentor discussion about this poster and this thread:
Looking at his diagram, this is a basic relativity of simultaneity misunderstanding -(light signals from the common source in the center reach the detectors at the same time only in the frame in which the two detectors and the emitter are at rest) with a generous admixture of invalid clock synchronization assumptions.

I'd started a reply but am inclined to think that one of the earlier answers is better: read Taylor and Wheeler or equivalent, come back if you get stuck somewhere and we can help you over the hard spot.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 53 ·
2
Replies
53
Views
2K
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
838
  • · Replies 57 ·
2
Replies
57
Views
4K
  • · Replies 93 ·
4
Replies
93
Views
6K
  • · Replies 65 ·
3
Replies
65
Views
12K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K