ASTRON 2B03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Infinite Mass, Solar Flare, Length Contraction
6 Nov 2015
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Friday, october 9 (see marking scheme for details) 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! Two observers are moving at a speed 99% of the speed of light relative to each other. Each observer, using their own ruler and clock, measures the speed of a particular beam of light to be the same. Strange things happen when everyone agrees on the speed of light. So, in a normal human lifespan (say 60 years according to your clock on board) you could travel further than 60 light years (if you were moving at close to the speed of light)! This argument completely ignores the energy it would take to be able to accelerate to high speeds! (and radiation damage) We also need to include acceleration to fully understand this topic. Read about muons produced in the upper atmosphere!
