Hi everyone,
In its simplest form, also I know only its simplest form :), I try to tell brief explanation about relativity, means time relativity by light speed limit, gravitation, pressure and heat.
We must ask what is time. Is it something magical thing or independent parameter and same in whereever and whenever?
In our normal life we use minutes, hours, seconds, days, so on… What are they? We know that the Earth is revolving around itself. This is our long living great timing reference point. 1 Earth revolution has been seperated into 24 equal, approximately, parts. These parts divided into 60 equal parts, and those are also divided into 60 equal parts. These measures are coming from an action, movement, occurence.. The Earth’s revolution around itself. Without it, there is no need to use time measurement. So what does it really mean? We know our timing measurements are based on a event. Then we can calcuate how much time other events take to be occured. For instance, how much time the water needs to pass to boiling phase if we continuously heat at a specific degree. We use minutes, hours, seconds. We use them in our practical formulas so we calculate future approximately.
So what is time relativity?
Lets think about light speed. We know it is a limit, the highest speed. So what? So, anything cannot be as fast as light. Assume that you are in a bus. It’s speed is 50 km/h. You can walk in it. Assume you can walk to the driver cabin at 5 km/h. Your ground speed is 50+5 = 55 km/h. It is perfectly normal. So, what happens if the bus starts to accelerate to the speed of light? Lets think it’s speed is 5 km/h less than light speed. So we can walk 5 km/h in the bus to the driver cabin. So our ground speed will be the light speed! For a second lets suppose it is normal :) Then, what happens if the bus speed is 4 km/h less than light speed? It is 1 km/h faster than previous position. Can we now walk at 5 km/h in the bus to the driver cabin? Unfortunately, no. Our total, ground speed cannot be bigger than light speed. What does it mean? In atmoic level, we have electrons, sub atomic particels.. They move around atomic core or they are shared between atoms, and they form everything, our fingers, bodies, stars.. And any electron or atomic or subatomic movements’ speed cannot be bigger than light speed. So if the bus is accelerated to the light speed, all atoms, electrons.. will be affected. Assume the bus is a system where all atoms are living happily in it, moving freely, sharing electrons happily. But when the bus’ speed is approaching to the speed of light, they will not move freely than before. If the system’s speed is approaching to the speed of light all atomic interactions, so all physical and chemical interactions are becoming slower. Relative speeds and relative motions will become very limited so every formation in this system(our bus) will become slower and slower. At light speed everything stops, frozen! Ironic :) That means, there is no need to use time measurement in this system. If you are in this bus you will never be getting older. Technically you are frozen at light speed :) Moreover, you know, we send artificial satellites to the space. They are revolving around the Earth at very high speeds. So lets guess what is happing even today? Our satellites’ computer timings are slowing day to day. However, we have solutions about this relativistic problem. You can google it. Yes, their speed is not near to the speed of light but moving fast at 30000 km/h or 40000 km/h also unveils secrets of time relativity effects.
What about the gravitation? How does it affect atomic occurences? Lets think about black holes. They are massive. Atomic interactions also become very limited. They cannot move freely as they move freely in the Earth conditions. Since, all atoms, particles, electrons.. are focused on black hole’s center of mass. Their movents are restricted. So their relative movements, relative speeds are very very limited near massive gravitational forces. So, if our bus approaches to the black hole, all atomic interations will be slower in the bus. This situation is told in the film Interstellar. Yes, there are some wrong arguments but they are fine for a film.
What about pressure effect on time relativity? Remember water boiling example. Try to boild specific amount of water by giving same amout continuous heat on different pressurised environments? You will see that water will be boiled with different durations. Again, time relativity occures.
You can make even better explanation about heat’s effect on time relativity, I think after all :)
So, what is time? Without atoms, without atomic interactions, wtihout physichal-chemical reactions, formations.. could we speak about time? It is only measurement unit about future formations. With math, it’s meaning may be shown bigger than real. Math has no limit but we use limit in math for real universe :) Also, I hope there is tachyon particle, otherwise reaching to the other stars will wait for a very long time :)
Thanks for reading,
Cem Yaşar