Measuring time with a frame of reference that moves 99.5% the speed of light to us?

How do measurements of time differ for events in a frame of reference that moves at 99.5% the speed of light relative to us?





a. 10 times slower than for us.


b. no change


c. 100 times faster


d. 20 times slower than for us

Measuring time with a frame of reference that moves 99.5% the speed of light to us?
The time dilation factor gamma is





1/sqrt (1-(v/c)^2)





= 1/sqrt (1 - 0.995^2)





get out your calculator--looks like a bit more than 100. Oops, my mental math was off--didn't take the sqrt. A little more than 10 is correct.
Reply:This problem is worded ambiguously, so I can't give a simple a,b,c or d answer.





gamma = 10.0125





Supposing we're on Earth and the other guy is traveling in a space ship:





In our frame, the traveler's clock is running ten times slower than ours. Events on Earth proceed at a normal pace.





In the traveler's frame, our clock is running ten times slower than his. Events in the space ship proceed at a normal pace.





So each of us measures the same rate for one another's clock.
Reply:I'm no physics expert but I would say there would be no change if everything was relative and the only thing that is different is the speed at which the frame of reference moves. Consider our 24 hour day, If it revolves around a star like our sun in the same elliptical pattern and that star was x-times larger than our sun in order to make the distance greater so that a day is the same number of hours, mins, secs, etc. as an earth day, the measurements of time would not be different. This arguement may have 1,000,000,000,000,000+ holes in it, but it's worth a shot.





However, if we were to exist in such a place, let's say because we travelled there for exploration, over a couple of "days", the speed at which we move (because we would move just as fast if we were there, right) will not change how we perceive the passage of time. It will seem as though we were there for a day or two. Once we return home, it may only appear as though a few moments have passed if you ask me. So I guess I would say: c. 100 times faster. But I'm no physics genius. I don't know anything about it really. Your question is interesting though.

redbud