beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted February 29, 2004 11:23 PM
Physics of speed and light - Part 2
There is one problem with the whole constancy of the speed of light:
If you have some event happening on a planet five light years away from Earth, then by definition it will take five years before you see that event on earth. So, for example, an alien waves to you from that planet. With your brand new ZX-12R binoculars, by the time you see the alien waving, he has already aged five years - it took the light that long to reach you and the light is what you're experiencing when you see the hand.
Now, say there is a really fast rocket ship, the Ducati999 Intergalactic SS (for speed ship) (D9 for short). The D9 amazingly travel at speeds exceeding the speed of light. The D9 is on the alien's planet, and in order to prove this point, as soon as the alien that is standing next to it and the ship - as soon as he waves it take off in the D9 and head towards you on Earth. Because it can go faster than the light from the alien's hand, it will get to you before you see the hand. Then, just before you notice the alien wave, it can tell you that he is going to wave. That's not even a big deal compared to this next case scenario.
Say you're looking at the D9 through your 12R binoculars right as it take off. It will get to you before you see it leave, i.e. It can, if it can travel faster than the speed of light, get to you and tell you that it's about to arrive... then, behind it, the light that it was traveling faster than would arrive and you would see it leave the planet. In effect, if something could travel faster than the speed of light, it could travel back in time. By now your 12R binoculars are out of date, and you'll need to trade them in for the new and improved 10R model which can see into the future... in effect making the 12r irrelevant, erroneous, inept and relatively impotent. Kind of weird though - I can't say I understand it all completely.
The other thing that is directly related is a test that some scientists did with two atomic clocks and an airplane. They synchronized the two clocks on the ground, then put one in the plane and left one on the ground - this is all to test Einstein's theory. They calculated what the time difference would be between the two clocks after the one in the plane took off and flew at 600-odd-mph for x amount of time - according to Einstein. Then they sent the one up in the plane and one stayed on the ground. When the one came down from the plane they compared the two clocks. Sure enough, the one in the place had slowed down compared to the one on the ground - not only that, it had slowed down the exact amount that Einstein's calculations predicted. As far as I know, its not only speed that slows the clock down, but also gravity. I'm not sure why gravity does it, though.
Can u guess the moral of this story?
   
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DB
Pro
Posts: 1932
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posted February 29, 2004 11:53 PM
the moral beans is that you don't have a 10r yet and you have WAY TOO much time on your hands.
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Dan
04 ZX10r (Track only)
08 Concours14
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beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted March 01, 2004 12:00 AM
I just had a lot of time to think on the drive back from Oregon this weekend.
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worm~hole
Needs a life
Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
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posted March 01, 2004 12:52 AM
 Edited By: worm~hole on 1 Mar 2004 00:53
"...you cannot see the future because it hasn't happened yet no matter what you use to try to see it or what you use to try to get there...but...we can and are always seeing the past..."
This brief moment of worm~hole clarity brought to you by a hot theraputic mineral bath and a few hours of much needed sleep. Thank you.
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“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men
stand ready in the night to visit violence on those
who would do us harm.”
-George Orwell
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tuusinii
Pro
Posts: 1031
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posted March 01, 2004 03:28 AM
I tried not to comment this or the other thread... But anyway those mindgames don't work, because You can't travel faster or equal than light - thats if You weight something. And as a site note the speed of light isin't egual everywhere. It depends of the material the light is travelling. For example in the atmosphere the lightsspeed is a little bit less than empty space. Also in glass it is much more less - thats why You can make magnifyinglenses(with proper shape)
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ozzy
Needs a job
need guberment cheese
Posts: 3172
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posted March 01, 2004 04:14 AM
How does any of this relate to you being afraid to turn out the lights in the bedroom at Dino's?
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tuusinii
Pro
Posts: 1031
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posted March 01, 2004 04:50 AM
I don't know - and I DON'T want to know 
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Bagster
Zone Head
Posts: 630
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posted March 01, 2004 05:36 AM
Edited By: Bagster on 1 Mar 2004 05:45
Sorry beans, I don't agree with the "faster than light=back in time" theory.
Sure, if the D9 came to earth faster than its "image" did, it could tell us, and when we looked, it would "appear" like they were leaving their planet.
But we all know they are already here!
Its also where your point of view is from.
We viewed from 5 light years away and gave them 5 years to outrace their light image.
What about the people on their home planet?
What if they left at the exact same time the people waved like you said, and we will even grant this D9 ship "instant lightspeed accelleration".
If the ship went in a large looping turn and then returned home, wouldn't it still have to return home "after" it left?
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beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted March 01, 2004 07:55 AM
Edited By: beansbaxter on 3 Mar 2004 14:41
Hmmmm....interesting comments....more to think about within my efruvecent cranium...
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Bagster
Zone Head
Posts: 630
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posted March 03, 2004 03:34 PM
Your cranium glows in the dark?
You can cure that with Preparation H.
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