Time dilation question

[Australo Rob.]

Martin, is it the case that a major plank of the time dilation theory is that light speed reception is constant? And is it also the case that several experiments, such as measuring light speed whilst we are rotating both toward and away from the sun, have shown this to be the case?

[Martin]

Rob, I appreciate your asking me, but that question belongs in the Relativity forum

http://www.scienceforums.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=20

Please open a thread there and ask that question where it can be answered without getting this thread off topic.

[swansont]

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[NowThatWeKnow]

Martin, is it the case that a major plank of the time dilation theory is that light speed reception is constant? And is it also the case that several experiments, such as measuring light speed whilst we are rotating both toward and away from the sun, have shown this to be the case?

 

I am not sure if you or anyone else is still following this thread but here are a few thoughts from a layman. Corrections are always welcome from the experts so we all can learn.

 

Space, time and the speed of light are all necessary pieces of the puzzle and must follow certain rules for special relativity to be mathematically correct. However, there are many paradoxes associated with special relativity.

 

"Einstein postulated that the speed of light in free space is the same for all observers, regardless of their motion relative to the light source." I look at the speed of light as being constant, but only relative to its current location or frame. As light leaves the Sun headed for open space it would actually speed up as gravity decreased IF it could be measured in real time from a single frame like Earth. Since we can not see the light until it gets to us we can only measure what we see relative to the speed of clocks in our frame. Therefore we measure the speed of light at 186,000 miles per second. If we we were closer to the Sun our clocks would be running slower so the slower light would still be measured at 186,000 miles per second. I look at it like gravity bends space so light has further to go in gravity but your clock is running slower so the math works out.

 

In special relativity the time dilation (and length contraction) comes from speed rather then gravity. you will observe the speed of light from any source as being constant. The light from a flash light in your hand or a flash light on a ship moving at relativistic speeds will be seen by you at the same speed. You would observe the light from the ship and the ship itself separating at a speed much slower then light as they both traveled at a speed close to each other. The guy in the ship would see his light moving away from him at the speed of light because relative to his very slow clock it would be moving at 186,000 miles per second.