- #1
jackle
- 275
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Not sure where to post this. You can move it if you like.
There is no right answer to this but I hope it makes you think as
much as it made me think.
A long time in the future, man-kind can travel backwards in time by
breaking the light barrier. The research team calculate that according
to Einstien's equations, they will trace a smooth path through
space-time as they are traveling backwards through time. The same
set of events can be viewed form inside and outside the ship. They are
however, curious as to what happens if they drop one of the glasses
of champaign aboad.
According to the 2nd law of thermodynamics, the glass drops then
smashes as time goes forward. This gives rise to a simple paradox.
Which way is forwards?
If the second law is obeyed in the reference frame of the space ship,
the on-board team experience nothing unusual, but the rest of the team
on the ground will see the same events, but to them, the glass is
smashing, then rising from the floor! Events aboard seem to go
backwards from the reference frame of the GROUND team.
To correct the paradox, the ground team argue that the second law must
be obeyed in the reference frame of the ground team, now they would
see it the right way round. BUT the on-board team complain
that they would experience the glass smashing, then rising from the
floor as they travel backwards through time! Events aboard seem to go
backwards from the reference frame of the ON-BOARD team.
Only one can be correct. The two teams place a bet. Who wins and why?
There is no right answer to this but I hope it makes you think as
much as it made me think.
A long time in the future, man-kind can travel backwards in time by
breaking the light barrier. The research team calculate that according
to Einstien's equations, they will trace a smooth path through
space-time as they are traveling backwards through time. The same
set of events can be viewed form inside and outside the ship. They are
however, curious as to what happens if they drop one of the glasses
of champaign aboad.
According to the 2nd law of thermodynamics, the glass drops then
smashes as time goes forward. This gives rise to a simple paradox.
Which way is forwards?
If the second law is obeyed in the reference frame of the space ship,
the on-board team experience nothing unusual, but the rest of the team
on the ground will see the same events, but to them, the glass is
smashing, then rising from the floor! Events aboard seem to go
backwards from the reference frame of the GROUND team.
To correct the paradox, the ground team argue that the second law must
be obeyed in the reference frame of the ground team, now they would
see it the right way round. BUT the on-board team complain
that they would experience the glass smashing, then rising from the
floor as they travel backwards through time! Events aboard seem to go
backwards from the reference frame of the ON-BOARD team.
Only one can be correct. The two teams place a bet. Who wins and why?
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