Does anyone know what the current leading theory is on WHY time and space distort at large velocities? I tend to think about this a lot, and think that it's related to the expansion of space and the idea that space is curved. The faster you go, the higher above the curve of space your delta-x takes you.
I'm not looking for explanations of the effects, i.e. twin paradox, spatial foreshortening, and the constant nature of C. I get all that. I'm looking for insights as to WHY it acts like this. I feel that the real answer would be stunningly simple, just as the reason behind retrograde planet motion was simple once Copernicus got Brahe's data and analyzed it.
Jaxon2008-01-13T11:35:05Z
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First of all, Great Question- Probably going to ruffle a few feathers here, but I had to answer this one. The current theory is the same as the old theory. Einstein needed a way to reconcile the “apparent incompatibility of the law of propagation of light” with the “principle of relativity”.
When an event, such as the transmission of a ray of light, is viewed from two different reference systems where one is stationary and one is moving, Einstein found that the velocity of light is not “C” as measured from the moving reference frame, as a result of addition of velocities. (He used his classic two lightening flashes as viewed from a stationary embankment and from a moving train.)
Because of Lorentz’s accepted published work at the time on electro dynamical and optical phenomena related with moving bodies, Einstein HAD to make “C” always be “C” from any reference frame, otherwise his special theory of relativity would never be fully accepted.
To accomplish this, he had to get rid of or modify two long held hypotheses from classical mechanics which were embodied in the “addition of velocities”.
1- The time-Interval (time) between two events is independent of the condition of motion of the body of reference.
2- The space-Interval (distance) between two points of a rigid body is independent of the condition of motion of the body of reference.
Side Note: Einstein had a teacher named Minkowski who wrote and published a book in 1907 titled “Space and Time”, in which he described mathematically how time and space cannot be viewed as having a separate existence within a vacuum, well before Einstein himself published this concept.
Einstein’s solution was to “borrow” the concept from Minkowski, incorporate it into his theory of relativity as his own, and thereby creating curved space time and a way for light to always be “C” in a vacuum. The rest is history, time and space were linked from that point on, rightfully or wrongfully so.
The only problem was that when you linked time and space, strange things resulted mathematically as objects neared the speed of light, such as the effects you mentioned, twins paradox and so on. Because these were only hypothetical strange things, they did not prevent the theory from being accepted, if anything they were considered exotic byproducts.
To answer your question, this is the real reason why time and space are linked and are theorized to distort at large velocities. It was the strange by product result of a fix by Albert to make his theory compatible with the law of propagation of light in a vacuum. In reality, there may be no such distortions or consequences at large velocities, at least not as predicted by special relativity.
Not quit the answer you were probably looking for, but do a little background research and you will see that this is all true. You won’t find that in your physics books in school.
The larger the quantity, the larger the gravitational field is. Due to large gravitational field it has to be distorted to create the shortest distance between them.
The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible. - Albert Einstein
There is always a simple way to explain how our universe works, but it is not the time yet due to the limitations of our current technology. We can only do more research and experiments to unveil the mystery that the universe holds.
I think what you are looking for really stems from electrodynamics. Relativity really is directly tied to Maxwell's equations and effects like foreshortening can be explained by the forces between charged particles in matter. I don't have a good citation for you off the top of my head, though.
im not sure much but theres many theories such as one saying at the beginning of the universe, the four forces were combined into a super force which broke off. also about how faster you move through space time, slower time goes