Interstellar Travel Lecture 18 Post Midterm No copyright infringement is intended by the creation or use of these notes Cosmic speed limit o Speed of light is c and cannot be exceeded o A confirmed predication of the special theory of relativity o Light years is the amount if years it would take while traveling at the o It would take infinite amount of energy for a non zero mass object to reach speed of light speed of light Special Theory of Relativity o Measurements of time space and motion only make sense when we say what they are measured relative to o Postulates Laws of nature same for everyone Speed of light same for everyone o Consequences Time dilation moving clocks run slow move faster time slower Length contraction moving objects contract in length Loss of simultaneity simultaneity is observer dependent General Theory of Relativity o Gravity is a came from the curvature of spacetime o Consequences Gravitational time dilation clocks closer to source of gravity run Gravitational lensing bending of light when light rays travel in slow gravitation field Wormholes Conclusion o Shortcut to travel through curvature of spacetime o Extremely unlike unstable and energy taxing o No plausible way to enable interstellar travel o Energy and time requirements are too great Scientific Processes o Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence burden of proof goes to person who makes positive or extraordinary claim
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