Post by Talks With Beagles on Jan 31, 2009 21:04:13 GMT -6
For a long time I have been troubled by a paradox that is inherent in Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. This paradox arises from Einstein’s assertion that time stands still at the speed of light. Now time is a function of speed so, if time stood still, the speed of light would be zero, and we all know that it isn’t. Therefore, either time does not stand still, or light doesn’t travel at the speed of light. I understand that Einstein formulated his theory using calculus, a discipline with which I am not familiar. I once considered learning calculus just so that I could check Einstein’s work and see where he went wrong, but I decided that it would be easier and more fun to figure it out with common sense. I am now ready to concede that Einstein was probably right, and here’s why:
Another assertion of Einstein’s is that the speed of light is the same for all observers, regardless of their position or state of motion. Since light probably doesn’t observe itself, I doubt that we should include it in the category “all observers” but, if light could observe itself, it would likely perceive itself standing still and all the rest of us zipping by at the speed of light. In other words, the speed of light is indeed zero relative to itself, it is only somewhat faster relative to everything else. This still doesn’t explain how the speed of light can be absolute and constant relative to all observers when they themselves are moving in different directions at different speeds, but I think I’ve got that one figured out too.
To locate an object in space we need to know its time as well as its position. For instance, if we want to land a rocket on Mars, we need to know where Mars will be when the rocket gets there, not where it is now. I seem to remember that Mars is about eight or nine light seconds from Earth. This means that there is a differential between Mars time and Earth time. For our rocket to be accurate we must factor this time differential in when we try to predict where Mars will be when the rocket trajectory intersects the Martian orbit. Since most bodies in space are moving at a relatively constant speed in relation to each other, each body’s time must be different in order for the speed of light to appear both absolute and constant to them all.
I have been told that the Theory of Relativity has no practical application on the planet Earth, where most of us spend most of our time, but I’m not so sure about that. I have long suspected that it has something to do with the fact that time passes faster as we grow older. Now I wonder if it also explains why a person in Australia can post something on the internet tomorrow and we can read it in the U.S. today. It might also be why I find it so difficult to shoot a partridge on the wing. Let me think about it some more and I will get back to you at a future point in time…..and space.
Another assertion of Einstein’s is that the speed of light is the same for all observers, regardless of their position or state of motion. Since light probably doesn’t observe itself, I doubt that we should include it in the category “all observers” but, if light could observe itself, it would likely perceive itself standing still and all the rest of us zipping by at the speed of light. In other words, the speed of light is indeed zero relative to itself, it is only somewhat faster relative to everything else. This still doesn’t explain how the speed of light can be absolute and constant relative to all observers when they themselves are moving in different directions at different speeds, but I think I’ve got that one figured out too.
To locate an object in space we need to know its time as well as its position. For instance, if we want to land a rocket on Mars, we need to know where Mars will be when the rocket gets there, not where it is now. I seem to remember that Mars is about eight or nine light seconds from Earth. This means that there is a differential between Mars time and Earth time. For our rocket to be accurate we must factor this time differential in when we try to predict where Mars will be when the rocket trajectory intersects the Martian orbit. Since most bodies in space are moving at a relatively constant speed in relation to each other, each body’s time must be different in order for the speed of light to appear both absolute and constant to them all.
I have been told that the Theory of Relativity has no practical application on the planet Earth, where most of us spend most of our time, but I’m not so sure about that. I have long suspected that it has something to do with the fact that time passes faster as we grow older. Now I wonder if it also explains why a person in Australia can post something on the internet tomorrow and we can read it in the U.S. today. It might also be why I find it so difficult to shoot a partridge on the wing. Let me think about it some more and I will get back to you at a future point in time…..and space.
