Time Dilation and the Flawed World Record Attempt: A Physics Explanation

In summary, an athlete wants to set a world record for the 100m dash by having his time taken by an observer on a moving spacecraft. However, due to the effects of time dilation, the time measured by the observer on the spacecraft will be longer than the time measured by the athlete on Earth. This means that the athlete would not have run the full 100 metres and the record would not be valid. Additionally, the length of the track would appear contracted to the observer on the spacecraft, further affecting the accuracy of the record. Therefore, this is not a good idea.
  • #1
anxmetal
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0
An athlete has learned enough physics to know that if he measures from the Earth a time interval on a moving spacecraft , what he finds will be greater than what somebody on the spacecraft would measure. He therefore proposes to set a world record for the 100m dash by having his time taken by an observer on a moving spacecraft . Is this a good idea?

My Answer: No, because the observer in the spacecraft would measure a longer time interval not a shorter time interval. Can anyone explain it further?
 
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  • #2
anxmetal said:
An athlete has learned enough physics to know that if he measures from the Earth a time interval on a moving spacecraft , what he finds will be greater than what somebody on the spacecraft would measure. He therefore proposes to set a world record for the 100m dash by having his time taken by an observer on a moving spacecraft . Is this a good idea?

Not a good idea as the judge on the moving spacecraft would see the track as moving and therefore contracted in Length so the athlete would not have run the full 100 metres. How much contracted I hear you ask well exactly what is required to keep the speed of light constant. The time is reduced by a factor of sqrt (1-v^2/c^2) and the length of the track by the same factor (V being the velocity of the judge with respect to the track and c being the speed of light in vacuum)
 
  • #3
According to the person on earth, a clock on the spaceship ticks slowly and according to a person on the spaceship, a clock on the Earth ticks slowly (not including the affects of gravity).
 

Related to Time Dilation and the Flawed World Record Attempt: A Physics Explanation

1. What is time dilation?

Time dilation is a phenomenon in which time passes slower for an object or individual that is moving at high speeds or in a strong gravitational field, as predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity.

2. What causes time dilation?

Time dilation is caused by the stretching of space-time due to the speed of an object or the strength of a gravitational field. The faster an object moves or the stronger the gravitational field, the more time will appear to pass slower for that object.

3. How does time dilation affect us?

Time dilation is a very small effect that is only noticeable at extremely high speeds or in strong gravitational fields. It can affect things like the accuracy of GPS satellites and the aging of astronauts in space, but it is not something that we experience in our everyday lives.

4. Is time dilation proven?

Yes, time dilation has been proven through various experiments and observations, including the famous Hafele-Keating experiment and the observations of time differences between atomic clocks on Earth and in orbiting satellites.

5. Can time dilation be reversed?

No, time dilation cannot be reversed. It is a fundamental aspect of the universe and is an integral part of Einstein's theory of relativity. However, the effects of time dilation can be counteracted by slowing down or speeding up an object's motion, or by moving to a different gravitational field.

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