Before discussion the Special Theory of Relativity. Two observations must be understood; one that the speed of light is constant and two one cannot distinguish a state of rest from a state of constant velocity. The idea that the speed of light is constant has never been truly proven, but can be verified with experimentation. Galileo’s principle of reality discusses how inertial beings, those beings experimenting inertia, could not tell whether they are moving with a constant velocity or at rest.
In space the only concept which is constant is light; space and time become relative. The special theory of relativity states that as an objects velocity increases it measures a shorter distance, until the point it reaches the infinite limit of speed, speed of light, distance stops existing. This theory also states that if as the velocity of a running clock increases its time slows down until a point, once it reaches the speed of light, the clock stops running altogether. The last idea which is presented by the theory of relativity is that as an objects velocity increases its mass will increase until it becomes infinite when the speed is equal to the speed of light.
The reasons we in our everyday lives cannot see these ideas being expressed is because we never have large enough differences in speed to see the differences in distance, time, and mass. As an object approaches the speed of light the more warped its measurements of mass, distance, and time are.
The most exciting part of this theory is that it potentially leads to a way and understanding of how to time travel. If time stops when one reaches the seed of light, a connection can be easily drawn that by going faster than the speed of light we could go back in time.
-Sarah Healy
Sources:
The Special Theory of Relativity
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