All Questions
Tagged with special-relativity observers
813
questions
1
vote
3
answers
2k
views
Does the Lorentz transformation not apply to light?
Since you would know that light always travels at the constant velocity with respect to all frame of reference, according to relativity, whenever we are traveling at the speed of light, our time with ...
2
votes
3
answers
268
views
Using Einstein's Relativity: Who is younger? [duplicate]
Suppose we have a person A and a person B.
Person B travels very close to speed of light and never returns. He's constant in speed. Then, we can say two things:
B is younger than A.
A is younger ...
- 189
0
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Time dilation at the speed of light
Does a massless particle travelling at the speed on light in a vacuum (c) experience an infinite time dilation effect?
i.e. Would the time dilation extend from the perspective of the massless ...
- 111
67
votes
10
answers
172k
views
Would time freeze if you could travel at the speed of light?
I read with interest about Einstein's Theory of Relativity and his proposition about the speed of light being the universal speed limit.
So, if I were to travel in a spacecraft at (practically) the ...
4
votes
2
answers
244
views
Effect of gravity at near-lightspeeds
Let's say I'm in a space station, hurtling towards our galaxy nearly close to the speed of light. From my reference frame, I see the galaxy coming towards my ship at the same speed.
I pass the Sun, ...
- 165
14
votes
6
answers
38k
views
How can time be relative?
I don't understand how time can be relative to different observers, and I think my confusion is around how I understand what time is.
I have always been told (and thought) that time is basically a ...
user8458
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
In What Frame of Reference does the Special Theory of Relativity Operate? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Time Dilation - How does it know which Frame of Reference to age slower?
This has bugged me for years.
According to the theory of relativity, the faster an object moves, the ...
- 103
3
votes
4
answers
3k
views
How does time dilation work without a privileged reference frame? [duplicate]
As I understand special relativity, light travels at the same speed in all reference frames.
What I fail to understand is why time dilation would occur in one reference frame, but not by an equal ...
- 313
8
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Why is time-order invariant in timelike interval?
Why do two observers measure the same order of events if we are inside the light cone?
(e.g. if $ds^2 > 0$ time-order is preserved according to the classical mechanics book I am reading, but it ...
- 253
2
votes
1
answer
991
views
What happens to speed and frequency of a light beam moving in transparent medium when observed from different inertial frame of reference?
Suppose a transparent medium where speed of light is $c/n$, an inertial frame of reference $K$ which is stationary relatively to the medium and an inertial frame of reference $K'$ which is moving ...
- 33
24
votes
10
answers
7k
views
What are the mechanics by which Time Dilation and Length Contraction occur?
What are the mechanics of time dilation and length contraction? Going beyond the mathematical equations involving light and the "speed limit of the universe", what is observed is merely a phenomenon ...
- 241
8
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Does superluminal travel imply travelling back in time?
Is this statement true?
You can not travel back in time. If I travel fast enough the clock will start to go backwards, but that does not mean I am traveling back in time. It would only mean that ...
- 113
2
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Observed speed while travelling close to the speed of light
I was watching Discovery channel the other night, they were telling that time slows down when you travel at a higher speed. This means there is a difference between the actual speed you travel at, and ...
- 757
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why don't two observers' clocks measure the same time between the same events?
Person A in reference frame A watches person B travel from Star 1 to Star 2 (a distance of d). Of course, from person B's reference frame, he is at rest and is watching Star 2 traveling to him.
...
- 163
5
votes
2
answers
11k
views
Which observer's time is proper time?
I just have a quick question about time dilation/proper time because my physics book makes it a little confusing. Let's say we have an observer on Earth, and then an observer on a space ship. The ...
- 1,158