- #1
_PJ_
- 230
- 15
I read an article
https://physics.le.ac.uk/journals/index.php/pst/article/view/716/516
that suggested graduate students (or higher) had actually bothered to 'calculate' the dilation effects on Luke Skywalker and Leia from Star Wars to show how they, whilst born as twins, could not be the same age due to differing dilation effects.
Now whilst I can completely agree with the premise, it is common sense and a logical deduction. I just cannot understand how the rest of the paper could be considered at all 'scientific' even given the events and planets etc. in Star Wars (including capability of 'hyperspace travel') are accepted.
My main disagreements come from the following points:
1) Dilation effects on timelines would be countered somewhat with the general relativistic impacts of accelerating and decelerating. This is completely ignored in the paper.
2) There are absolutely no references to the masses of planets, distances between them, or actual duration spent in any location. Without any actual numbers even to make a reasonable estimate, there is nothing to base the 'calculations' on. The whole thing is unscientific.
3) Completely wrong use of principles and neglect to consider physical laws fully as explained below:
There is a reference to "Bespin" 'Cloud City' which assumes Bespin, being a Gas Giant, must have a greater gravitational strength than "Tattooine", a rocky planet with only two significant centres of civilisation. No argument there, HOWEVER - it is then suggested that the greater gravity would cause a greater slowing of time. This would be true if the distance at which the gravity acted was equivalent, however, the motions and rock formations and healthy musculature and breathing of those on "Tattooine" suggest a very similar to Earth 1G resultant gravitational field strength and 1atm atmospheric pressure.
The same, when on the High-Altitude, FLOATING 'Cloud City' which is clearly high enough to provide an equivalent 1G combination of gravitational field strength and 1atm atmospheric pressure.
Therefore, any time dilation would be EQUIVALENT for both parties.
One twin is said in the paper to be 'on the surface of a gas giant' which is ludicrous and utterly inaccurate.
https://physics.le.ac.uk/journals/index.php/pst/article/view/716/516
that suggested graduate students (or higher) had actually bothered to 'calculate' the dilation effects on Luke Skywalker and Leia from Star Wars to show how they, whilst born as twins, could not be the same age due to differing dilation effects.
Now whilst I can completely agree with the premise, it is common sense and a logical deduction. I just cannot understand how the rest of the paper could be considered at all 'scientific' even given the events and planets etc. in Star Wars (including capability of 'hyperspace travel') are accepted.
My main disagreements come from the following points:
1) Dilation effects on timelines would be countered somewhat with the general relativistic impacts of accelerating and decelerating. This is completely ignored in the paper.
2) There are absolutely no references to the masses of planets, distances between them, or actual duration spent in any location. Without any actual numbers even to make a reasonable estimate, there is nothing to base the 'calculations' on. The whole thing is unscientific.
3) Completely wrong use of principles and neglect to consider physical laws fully as explained below:
There is a reference to "Bespin" 'Cloud City' which assumes Bespin, being a Gas Giant, must have a greater gravitational strength than "Tattooine", a rocky planet with only two significant centres of civilisation. No argument there, HOWEVER - it is then suggested that the greater gravity would cause a greater slowing of time. This would be true if the distance at which the gravity acted was equivalent, however, the motions and rock formations and healthy musculature and breathing of those on "Tattooine" suggest a very similar to Earth 1G resultant gravitational field strength and 1atm atmospheric pressure.
The same, when on the High-Altitude, FLOATING 'Cloud City' which is clearly high enough to provide an equivalent 1G combination of gravitational field strength and 1atm atmospheric pressure.
Therefore, any time dilation would be EQUIVALENT for both parties.
One twin is said in the paper to be 'on the surface of a gas giant' which is ludicrous and utterly inaccurate.