Why do clocks go out of sync in space compared with those on Earth?
Apparently, if I set two atomic clocks to the same time (shall we say, 0:00 UTC + 0) and take one into space, when I return to Earth, they will be out of sync, i.e. the one that was in space will have moved ahead of the other one.
Why?
Why?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_relativity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation
Basically time goes slower if you move faster (at least for an observer). (That's far not that simple)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation
Basically time goes slower if you move faster (at least for an observer). (That's far not that simple)
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Yes, but why? A friend of mine tried to explain it, he said it was something to do with the Sun; but his explanation wasn't very good.
I always considered "time" to be something we use to describe an occurence we can't comprehend. I really can't explain it (because I can't comprehend what I'm trying to explain), but I never considered time to be something that exists or actually happens. Time is just a word, like God. We can't comprehend how the universe seems so well constructed for us to live in* so we call it God. But let's leave that where it is, and avoid another argument about religion.
*For example, the one 'thing' light can travel through without being reflected or refracted by is nothing (aka space). And the thing that separates us from the Sun happens to be... a large quantity of void, plus a few miles of gases, which just so happen to refract or reflect light in the right way to keep us safe. And it just so happens that all masses have gravity, allowing the Earth to be a sphere, and stopping us from drifting into space...
@Bazzy,
thanks for those articles.
This is always fun:
-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement
-- http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement
I always considered "time" to be something we use to describe an occurence we can't comprehend. I really can't explain it (because I can't comprehend what I'm trying to explain), but I never considered time to be something that exists or actually happens. Time is just a word, like God. We can't comprehend how the universe seems so well constructed for us to live in* so we call it God. But let's leave that where it is, and avoid another argument about religion.
*For example, the one 'thing' light can travel through without being reflected or refracted by is nothing (aka space). And the thing that separates us from the Sun happens to be... a large quantity of void, plus a few miles of gases, which just so happen to refract or reflect light in the right way to keep us safe. And it just so happens that all masses have gravity, allowing the Earth to be a sphere, and stopping us from drifting into space...
@Bazzy,
thanks for those articles.
This is always fun:
| [ 800 word introduction ] |
-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement
| Quantum entanglement is the name given to the things that a pair of particles do. |
-- http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement
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Woah, simple.wikipedia.org is cool! Nice!
You want to know why time moves at different rates for different objects?
No one knows. We only know that it does.
That's one of the questions that keep physicists up at night. :-)
You want to know why time moves at different rates for different objects?
No one knows. We only know that it does.
That's one of the questions that keep physicists up at night. :-)
| crhisname wrote: |
|---|
| @Bazzy, thanks for those articles. |
Wait a minute... which articles?
Those which R0mai linked to?
| Woah, simple.wikipedia.org is cool! Nice! |
| Yes, but why? |
Fun fact: if you move at sin(pi/3) c (cos-1(.5)=pi/3), you'll move through time at .5 in relation to a "static" observer.
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c is a constant from our sight!... don´t forget we only realize things we can only see with thew few sins and dimnénsions we have (no, not only 3 :P)
Much obliged if we could keep the language clean, for those who may peruse
the forums during lunch from work.
the forums during lunch from work.
For those whose employers may be passively monitoring for access to "restricted sites"
such words might raise alarms.
such words might raise alarms.
Well, it's not my fault if they're working for authoritarians. It's also not my fault if the asshat who wrote that monitor never heard of whitelisting.
The world does not revolve around you. I am asking nicely to ixnay the foul language.
It is obscene and offensive.
It is obscene and offensive.
#!@%^
I did NOT just spend half an hour typing out a reply to everyone on this thread and then press the back button, did I?
ARGH.
Abridged version:
That's why I like Physics. I have an hour long bus journey to and from school every day (two hours in total) with no-one I like that I can talk to, so I spend most of that time thinking and trying to understand things (mostly about why anatomy is like it is, while still struggling to stay away from the easy answer of "intelligent design"); and when I finally get my head round a problem, there's a great feeling of accomplishment. That's also why I like programming.
Now, how the hell did I manage that?
@R0mai
Sorry! And thanks :)
I don't read them. But I see why they're useful. I tend to be able to understand Wikipedia articles, but still; other people can't understand complex English.
Where did that come from?
While that kind of language doesn't offend me, I can see jsmith's point. I also disagree with censoring people (or anything, for that matter); but you could keep it to a minimum, I guess...
Not that I want to get involved.
I did NOT just spend half an hour typing out a reply to everyone on this thread and then press the back button, did I?
ARGH.
Abridged version:
| Duoas wrote: |
|---|
| No one knows. We only know that it does. That's one of the questions that keep physicists up at night. :-) |
That's why I like Physics. I have an hour long bus journey to and from school every day (two hours in total) with no-one I like that I can talk to, so I spend most of that time thinking and trying to understand things (mostly about why anatomy is like it is, while still struggling to stay away from the easy answer of "intelligent design"); and when I finally get my head round a problem, there's a great feeling of accomplishment. That's also why I like programming.
| Bazzy wrote: |
|---|
| You are welcome. Wait a minute... which articles? Those which R0mai linked to? |
Now, how the hell did I manage that?
@R0mai
Sorry! And thanks :)
| helios wrote: |
|---|
| Ugh. How can you read those articles without an overwhelming feeling of condescension? |
I don't read them. But I see why they're useful. I tend to be able to understand Wikipedia articles, but still; other people can't understand complex English.
| helios wrote: |
|---|
| I will say it straight: Shut the fuck up. |
Where did that come from?
| jsmith wrote: |
|---|
| The world does not revolve around you. I am asking nicely to ixnay the foul language. It is obscene and offensive. |
While that kind of language doesn't offend me, I can see jsmith's point. I also disagree with censoring people (or anything, for that matter); but you could keep it to a minimum, I guess...
Not that I want to get involved.
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