# What will I see in this scenario? (involves rockets traveling near light speed)

1. Dec 29, 2011

### cataclysmic

What will happen in the following scenario?

I am standing on the earth.

Right next to me, a small rocket containing a clock blasts off and accelerates to 90% of the speed of light almost instantly (within its 1st millimeter of travel).

As the rocket passes my head, I look at its clock and see that it is running very slowly.

Attached to this rocket is a second smaller rocket (which I will call "rocket #2). This rocket also contains a clock.

As I watch Rocket #1 pass my head, rocket #2 blasts from rocket #1 back towards earth (rocket #2 is going in the opposite of direction of rocket #1). Rocket #2 also accelerates to 90% of the speed of light within 1 mm, so that relative to me, rocket #2 ends up resting motionless beside my head.

The time of rocket #1 is running slowly relative to me.
The time of rocket #2 is running slowly relative to rocket #1.

When I look at rocket #2 sitting motionless next to my head, what will I see? Will I see rocket #2's clock running even more slowly than rocket #1's clock?

2. Dec 29, 2011

### ghwellsjr

No, rocket 2's clock will be just like your own clock ticking perfectly normally.

3. Dec 29, 2011