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From: slerner@sesame.UUCP (Simcha-Yitzchak Lerner)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Time Retardation
Message-ID: <399@sesame.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-Nov-85 17:51:52 EST
Article-I.D.: sesame.399
Posted: Wed Nov 13 17:51:52 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 17-Nov-85 05:38:48 EST
References: <8511111807.AA01976@s1-b.arpa>
Organization: Lotus Development Corp
Lines: 30

> 
> 
> The difference in the rate at which time passes for two different inertial
> frames of reference is determined by the Lorentz Transformation:
> 
> 	     ---------
> 	    /    v**2		v = Velocity of one frame with respect to
> 	\  / 1 - ----			the other.
> 	 \/      c**2		c = Speed of light.
> 
> As one approaches the speed of light, the rate that time passes in one
> frame of reference (like a spaceship) as "observed" from the other
> (say on Earth) approaches zero.

What happens if two ships leave with opposite vectors, and they both approach
the speed of light relative to their initial frame.  The v above, relative to
each other, would approach 2*c, giving a non-real answer.  Where am I goofing?
(Or is it time to invest in a FTL ship?  :-) )


-- 
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Development Corp.
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Simcha-Yitzchak Lerner

              {genrad|ihnp4|ima}!wjh12!talcott!sesame!slerner
                      {cbosgd|harvard}!talcott!sesame!slerner
                       talcott!sesame!slerner@harvard.ARPA