GR & Early Universe: Time Dilation & Light Speed

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of time dilation in the early Universe due to the intense gravity field caused by the high matter density. It also questions whether this could result in the apparent faster travel of light and discusses the implications of such a scenario. The conversation further explores the relationship between time and space and how it can be measured through observations of distant celestial objects. It clarifies that the intensity of the gravitational field is not the determining factor in time dilation, but rather the difference in gravitational potential between two observers. Finally, it is noted that the concept of "gravity field" can only be defined for stationary systems and is not applicable to the expanding universe.
  • #1
Juan Carlos del Rio
2
0
TL;DR Summary
According to GR the proper time measured by an observer in a gravity field runs slower compare to another frame with no or less gravity intensity. Looking for relative implications when comparing physical phenomena in different frames with different gravity fields strength
If in the early Universe the matter density was density so large causing an intense gravity field, was the time at that epoch running much more slowly compared to the actual time according to the GR?
If so then, would any reference frame in the early Universe see the light apparently traveling faster than we measure it nowadays? What would the implications be in this case?
 
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  • #2
More slowly than what? Explain how you would compare two clocks at different times.
 
  • #3
Translating time into space. We should just look into distant stars, galaxies, CMB, etc. I guess that in this case the light received is reddened due to the Universe expansion but could it also be any time dilation factor in this reddening? Or this is just two sides of the same coin? I mean we can see the reddening as space expansion OR time dilation but never with AND
 
  • #4
Juan Carlos del Rio said:
According to GR the proper time measured by an observer in a gravity field runs slower compare to another frame with no or less gravity intensity.

These statements have a very important qualifier attached to them: they only apply to a system which is stationary, i.e., whose global properties do not change with time. Only in such systems can the concept of "gravity field" even be defined.

Juan Carlos del Rio said:
If in the early Universe the matter density was density so large causing an intense gravity field

This is not correct, because the universe is not stationary; it is expanding. That means the concept of "gravity field" can't even be defined for the universe as a whole.

Juan Carlos del Rio said:
was the time at that epoch running much more slowly compared to the actual time

There is no such thing as "the actual time". Time is not absolute. It's relative. The only invariants are the elapsed time for particular observers between particular events.
 
  • #5
Juan Carlos del Rio said:
We should just look into distant stars, galaxies, CMB, etc. I guess that in this case the light received is reddened due to the Universe expansion but could it also be any time dilation factor in this reddening?

There is no way to even define a "time dilation factor" for this case.
 
  • #6
Juan Carlos del Rio said:
According to GR the proper time measured by an observer in a gravity field runs slower compare to another frame with no or less gravity intensity.
That's not right, although it is a very common misunderstanding. It's not the intensity of the gravitational field that matters, it's the the difference in gravitational potential between the the two observers. Consider for example two observers, one inside of a hollow sphere of matter and the other somewhere outside the sphere. The gravitational field inside the sphere will be zero - no intensity at all - while the observer outside the sphere will be subject to a gravitational field that depends on the mass of the sphere and the distance from it but which will always be greater than zero. However, it's the inside observer whose time will run slower.

Note that this hypothetical hollow sphere is a stationary system. If it weren't, there would be no way of defining the potential and as @PeterDonis says above, no sensible definition of "gravity field"
 
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  • Skeptical
Likes Torbert

Related to GR & Early Universe: Time Dilation & Light Speed

1. What is the theory of General Relativity and how does it relate to the early universe?

The theory of General Relativity, proposed by Albert Einstein, describes how gravity works in the universe. It states that massive objects cause a distortion in the fabric of space-time, which we experience as gravity. In the early universe, this theory helps us understand how the expansion of the universe and the formation of galaxies and other structures were influenced by gravity.

2. How does time dilation occur in the early universe?

Time dilation is a phenomenon predicted by the theory of General Relativity, where time moves slower for objects in strong gravitational fields. In the early universe, as the universe was expanding and becoming less dense, the gravitational fields were weaker, causing time to move faster compared to the present time. This means that events that occurred in the early universe would have appeared to take longer from our perspective.

3. Can the speed of light change in the early universe?

No, according to the theory of General Relativity, the speed of light is a constant and cannot change in any circumstances. However, the expansion of the universe can affect how we measure the speed of light, making it appear slower as the universe expands.

4. How does the concept of time change in the early universe?

In the early universe, the concept of time is different from what we experience in our current state. As the universe was denser and hotter, time was moving slower due to the strong gravitational fields. As the universe expanded and cooled, time started to move faster. This concept is known as cosmic time, and it helps us understand the evolution of the universe.

5. How do scientists study the effects of time dilation and light speed in the early universe?

Scientists use a variety of methods to study the effects of time dilation and light speed in the early universe. This includes analyzing the cosmic microwave background radiation, studying the redshift of distant galaxies, and conducting experiments with high-energy particles. These methods help us understand the behavior of matter and energy in the early universe and how it relates to the concepts of time dilation and light speed.

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