Excuse me if I bring this back to the level of those of use who introduce
special relativity to our HS, and Gen-Ed (and our other INTRO courses for
that matter) where 4-vectors and different algebras (normal algebra for that
matter) are not going to be useful. I'm back to the twins reunited on
earth--with one much younger than the other. The only conclusion I can
really latch onto here is that the twin who was moving, relative to earth,
had a slow moving clock.
Here is another scenario. I, after studying physics, set off for Alpha
Seti-6, a mere 30 light years away. I know that the speed of light is the
galactic speed limit and I am pretty damn sure that the universe does not
contract and expand (despite appearances) when I move, especially because it
does not do so when I sit still and others move. I arrive at AS-6 with an
hour having passed on my trusty Dick Tracy wrist watch. To be sure, AS-6,
looked to be awfully close to the earth during my flight, BUT I know it is
30 light years distance. How can I come to any conclusion other than my
watch (and my biological clocks) ran very slowly during the trip?
Rick
*********************************************************
Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
********************************************************
Free Physics Educational Software (Win & Mac)
Animations for Lectures
Photo-realistic Lab simulations
Energy management simulations
www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html
Energy 2100--class project
www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/ENERGY_PROJECT/ENERGY2100.htm
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