Is it possible to time travel according to Einstein's theory?

In summary, Einstein's theory of relativity states that time can be "accelerated" if an object travels at a speed close to the speed of light. This means that if a rocket travels around the Earth at 99.5% the speed of light for one year, 10 years would have passed on Earth. However, this is not the same as traditional time travel and it is uncertain what would happen if the object traveled in a circular motion at that speed.
  • #1
Razi Abid
Hello friends,
Einstein proved that if an object travels in a vacuum nearly at the speed of light, the result will be that the object will be transferred into future. One of my proffesors said that if a rocket travels round the Earth in space, with the speed of light for 1 year, then already a decade would have been passed on Earth. Is this TRUE, please justify.
with regards,
Razi
 
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  • #2
Neither of those statemenst is true in the way "time travel" is normally understood.
The first is true in the sense that we are all "travelling" into the future (at the rate of one second per second!) all the time and that can be "accelerated". If you travels with a speed, relative to the earth, of approximately 99.5% the speed of light then you experience time changing at only one hour for 10 hours on the earth. After one year of travel, 10 years would have passed on earth. That is not exactly what I would call "time travel" or being "transferred into the future".

That is straight line motion. It is not at all clear (to me!) what would happen if you spent a year traveling in a circle at 99.5% the speed of light. Surely you professor did not actually say "at the speed of light"- that is impossible.
 
  • #3
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sorry, i remember that my proffesor said that if we travel nearly the speed of light. I just forgot to write the nearly in between.
 

Related to Is it possible to time travel according to Einstein's theory?

What is Einstein's theory of relativity and how does it relate to time travel?

Einstein's theory of relativity is a fundamental theory in physics that explains how space and time are intertwined and how they are affected by gravity. It also includes the famous equation E=mc^2, which relates mass and energy. The theory suggests that time can be altered by gravity, with objects with greater mass causing time to move slower. This has implications for time travel, as traveling at high speeds or near a massive object could potentially distort time.

Did Einstein believe that time travel was possible?

Einstein did not believe that time travel was possible in the traditional sense of traveling back in time. He theorized that time is a dimension that can be bent or stretched, but it cannot be reversed. However, his theory of relativity does allow for the possibility of time dilation, where time moves at different rates for objects in different gravitational fields or traveling at different speeds.

What is the grandfather paradox and how does it relate to time travel?

The grandfather paradox is a thought experiment that raises questions about the possibility of time travel. It suggests that if a person were to travel back in time and prevent their own birth, it would create a paradox because they would not exist to go back in time in the first place. This paradox highlights the complexities and potential consequences of time travel.

Have there been any scientific experiments or evidence to support the idea of time travel?

At this time, there is no scientific evidence or experiments that definitively prove the existence of time travel. The concept is still purely theoretical and the technology necessary for time travel is not currently available. However, some theories, such as the Alcubierre drive, propose ways in which time travel could potentially be achieved in the future.

What are some ethical implications of time travel?

If time travel were to become possible, it would raise a number of ethical questions and concerns. For example, should people be allowed to change events in the past, potentially altering the course of history? How would time travelers be held accountable for their actions in the past? These are just some of the many ethical considerations that would need to be addressed if time travel were to become a reality.

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