Jump to content

Time and relativity

Featured Replies

If a person flies off in a rocket then returns, that person has aged less than the starting point?

If two people fly in opposite directions and return they are both younger than the starting point?

Because they have travelled away from each other at twice the speed/distance as from their starting point, is not one then younger than the other?

1. Yes

2. Yes

3. No: the direction does not matter. If they otherwise do exactly the same, the result (comparison of their age with the stay-at-home) must be exactly the same too.

If a person flies off in a rocket then returns, that person has aged less than the starting point?

If two people fly in opposite directions and return they are both younger than the starting point?

Because they have travelled away from each other at twice the speed/distance as from their starting point, is not one then younger than the other?

If the two flying in opposite directions have symmetrical trips, that is, fly the same distance at the same speed, turn around after the same amount of time and reach their starting point at the same time, they will have aged the same amount.

 

The difference in aging comes when you have asymmetrical travel at relativistic speeds. The starting point never undergoes acceleration. Because the traveler does, and changes speed and direction, the experiences of the traveler and the starting point are not symmetric and therefore the elapsed time for each is not the same.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.