Hi,
I am confused about this simple time dilation question:
- For a journey from Earth, accelerating to 0.999C over a 0.5 light year distance, then decelerating over a 0.5 light year distance, and heading back towards earth: accelerating to 0.999C over a 0.5 light year distance, then decelerating over a 0.5 light year distance. (total trip distance 2 light years)
- For a journey from Earth, accelerating to 0.999C over a 0.5 light year distance, then coasting for a 1 light year distance, then decelerating over a 0.5 light year distance, and heading back towards earth: accelerating to 0.999C over a 0.5 light year distance, then coasting for a 1 light year distance, then decelerating over a 0.5 light year distance. (total trip distance 4 light years)
- For a journey from Earth, accelerating to 0.999C over a 0.5 light year distance, then decelerating over a 0.5 light year distance, and continuing away from Earth: accelerating to 0.999C over a 0.5 light year distance, then decelerating over a 0.5 light year distance. (total trip distance 2 light years)
- For a journey from Earth, accelerating to 0.999C over a 0.5 light year distance, then coasting for a 1 light year distance, then decelerating over a 0.5 light year distance, and continuing away from Earth: accelerating to 0.999C over a 0.5 light year distance, then coasting for a 1 light year distance, then decelerating over a 0.5 light year distance. (total trip distance 4 light years)
Those four examples all have the same rates of acceleration for the same overall time dilation if time dilation only occurs during their acceleration time. The final distance to Earth is known (2ly or 4ly), so to check the clocks for 3 and 4, the communication time can be added to the measured clock time on the distant clock to see what the time dilation was.
What is the time differential between the Earth clock and each of
1,2,3,4? Also at the end of the journey are 1,2,3,4 clocks equal when compared, taking into account the communication time (ie light speed).cheers, Jamie