ASTRON 2B03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Time Dilation, Length Contraction
12 Oct 2018
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Time dilation: time=distance/speed of light, light in the moving clock covers more distance but the speed of light is constant so the clock ticks slower, moving clocks run more slowly. What does that mean: <50% c is insignificant. Consequences of special relativity: could (cid:498)time dilation(cid:499) help with space travel, yes! So, in a normal human lifespan (say 60 years accordging to your clock on board) you could travel further than 60 light years (if you were moving at close to the speed of light) Lets say you launch 2 spaceships going in opposite directions, both at 0. 75c. **it is not b because only light travels at c. Length contraction: objects seen in moving reference frames appear shorter along the direction, c=d/t of motion than the same object seen at rest. )f everyone agrees on the speed of light, strange things happen to (cid:498)clock(cid:499) and (cid:498)rulers(cid:499)
