Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 10:47:47 -0800
Message-Id: <v01520d01b14a6d5c4e4b@[192.168.1.201]>
To: pinhole@exploratorium.edu
From: mafifi@redshift.com (Marc Afifi)
Subject: Relativity question
I seem to remember, from many years ago, in college, that when a
relativistically moving astronaut comes to a stop in the Earth's reference
frame s/he recaptures all the time s/he gained due to time dilation. Does
anyone know if this is true? The idea is, if an astronaut travels for 50
years in his/her reference frame which is moving with a gamma factor of 2
relative to the Earth's reference frame, s/he will age 50 years while those
on Earth would age 100 years. If the moving astronaut comes to a stop in
the Earth's reference frame, does s/he gain 50 years during the
acceleration and end up at the same point in the timeline of those who
remained behind? In other words, at 100 years? For a 30 year old astronaut
traveling in the space ship, would that person then suddenly jump from 80
years old to 130 years old and die due to the acceleration?
All replies appreciated.
-Marc
-- Marc Afifi Physics and Chemistry Pacific Grove High School 615 Sunset Dr. Pacific Grove, CA, 93950(408) 646-6590 ext. 223
Favorite Oakland Raiders Motto: "Just When Baby?"