In trying to recall one of the various examples used to explain “time dilation” I came up with my own light speed and time relationship. I have often said that the “time dilation” is an observational thing and not a reflection of reality. My example seeks to “relate” speed and time carefully so as not to confuse persons looking for time dilation when they do not find it. (I have posted this on astronomydaily.com also as I have voiced my opinion about the time thing there also)
In a star system not far away there are 9 stars (3 rows of 3) forming a “square” in one plan of space. The stars are 1 light year apart from each other. See the drawing herewith to see the layout.
O1 is a nearby planet from where our experiment/observation is launched, and CP1 Cp2 and CP3 are stars of known distances apart.
Three space ships leave O1 their mission to pass by CP1 CP2 and CP3, so as to calibrate their “speed” to their on board clocks. They reason that if they cover “one light year distance in 12 months they are travelling at light speed… this gives them a firm basis for calculations of time during the experiment.
When they pass CP3 their calibrations are complete and their respective speeds is such that they will each arrive separately at stars S1 S4 and S7 they will arrive travelling at light speed all at the “same time”. (each clock is in step with the other notwithstanding they are a light year apart.)
Each of SS1 SS2 and SS3 set their clocks so that if they arrive at the “correct” time the clocks will have counted down and start on zero as the first star is passed and then count off the years as the experiment progresses.
SS1 will pass S1 , S2 and S3.
SS2 will pass S4 ,S5 and S6 .
SS3 will pass S7, S8 and S9.
When SS1, SS2 and SS3 pass S3, S6 and S9 they are to complete a 180 degree turn so they all meet at S6 , parallel and travelling to return to O1.
SS1 will pass so close to O1 when passing S1 that O1 will observe them at the very moment they pass by (closer than 300,000 klms leaves the “gap” under one second). They will not see SS1 earlier than when it arrives for it is travelling at the speed of light and it will arrive at the same time as its image arrives. When SS1 passes S1 (and O1) they send a transmission showing their on board clock reads Time 0 years 0 days 0 seconds.
O1 were not sure when to expect SS1 but have decided that whatever time SS1 arrives at S1 O1 will set their clocks running from 0 years 0 days 0 seconds.
SS1 passes O1 and S1 and their clock is running perfectly showing they have taken 12 months from CP3 and as they pass S1 their clock is exactly on 0..
SS2 passes S4 and their clocks are 0 they send a transmission showing a photo of their clock at 0 however the transmission will not be received by O1 until another 12 months has passed.
SS3 passes S7 and their clocks are at 0. They send a transmission showing a photo of the clock showing zero. This transmission will not arrive at O1 until 2 years have passed.
At O1 they know that when each ship passes a star it means they must have taken 12 months to get to it from the other if they were in fact travelling at the speed of light.
When they complete “the run” past the stars they are to complete their 180 degree turn and so as all space ships line up for the journey home.
The following observations are recorded at O1
Day zero
O1 Observed SS1 at S1, set clock to zero zero zero and running.
Transmission from SS1 shows SS1 clock photo at zero zero zero
One year later.
Observed SS2 passing S4
Transmission received from SS2 shows their clock photo at zero zero zero
Two years later
Observed SS3 passing S7
Transmission received from SS3 shows their clock photo at zero zero zero
Observed SS1 passing S2 date zero plus one year
Transmission received from SS1 shows their clockphoto at one year, zero minutes, zero seconds when passing S2.
Two years and one hundred fifty and one half days ( .42927 of a day exactly) after Day zero a transmission is received from SS2 passing S5 showing a photo of their clock reading one year zero days zero seconds.
(Someone points out the crew must be getting younger but they are reminded that the image received was sent one year and one hundred and fifty and one half days ago and that the SS2 would in fact be half way between S5 and S6. by now)
3.2360679 years after day zero O1 receive from SS3 that they pass S8 and a photo of their clock showing it to read one year zero days zero seconds
4 years after day zero O1 receive a transmission from SS1 that they pass S3 and their clock photo shows two years zero days zero seconds
4.8284271 years after day zero O1 receive from SS3 that they pass S9 and a photo of their clock showing it to read two years zero days zero seconds.
4.8284271 years after day zero O1 received a transmission from SS2 passing S6 showing their clock reading two years zero days zero seconds.
The observers at O1 conclude that all ships are running to the same clock and are in correct positions to turn and return. Their clocks are correct because they checked them against distance (one light year between stars means that to cover the distance one must be travelling at C).
After each space ship passes the last star in its “run” it is to do a 180 degree turn and meet at S6 travelling back toward O1. They are to complete the turn manoeuvre in two years. The ships all meet at S6 and head home. They have decelerated to half light speed and have…2.2360679 light years distance to cover to get home. They decelerate further and land on O1 5 years later…they have travelled for 9 years each since passing S1/S2/S3
They have shown that their clocks ran at the same speed during the experiment as the clocks set on O1 on day zero zero zero. All agree that there is no evidence of time dilation.
So where has it gone??
Finally the only conclusion reached is that “time dilation” is present in observations simply because light travelled at a “speed” and as such we can not be privy to what happens everywhere in the Universe “instantly” it does not mean when someone travelles at the speed of light they age any different to any one else.
What have I missed no one got younger or older than expected????
alex
(as otheres believe it to opperate) that it happens other than as an observational matter as I have said elsewhere around here and I am prepared to be called a fool for my belief, what I think or do wont change anything so hence my attitude
.. I dont have a degree that a University will recall when they hear me rattle on
.. so I dont really worry
.. I am going to look at what you said about the clocks and try and see what others see
. It is probably to lenghty to look interesting..dam but I could not make it shorter
. Please put me out of my missery I would be as happy either right or wrong it just seems to me that there must be some trick played in other examples of similar kind
.
