On 2007-03-09 21:13, daffydoug wrote:
Well, in the end, the watch got crushed as everyone was frozen, and he, like Burgess Merideth in the "All the time in the world" episode, ended up alone. (If my recollection is correct.)

On 2007-03-10 19:56, chrismatt wrote:
Consider that the possessor of the magical timepiece will probably age faster and die much earlier than those around him. Also consider that such a situation might be possible. As a very simplified example, if a world could somehow be accelerated close to the velocity of light, an observer stationary relative to that world would effectively "see" time on that world stand still. Years would go by for that observer, but only brief moments would pass on the world. This is effectively a sideways version of the old "twin paradox."

C²M

On 2007-03-11 23:00, clynim wrote:
There is also the fact that as you get closer to the speed of light, the heavier your mass. At light speed, you would have infinite mass. EGADS!!! More headaches!

This entire discussion has me asking more questions about astronomy and physhics. I already have quite a list that I'd like to sit down and ask an astronomer. They're probably ones that either give them headaches or they haven't thought to ask (at the least, I've never seen them addressed).

Aren't there supposed to be, in theory, particles that can travel faster than light, but never go BELOW that?

I do know that the speed of light is NOT constant. Scientists have been able to slow it down to truly human speeds. It requires a special material and temperatures close to absolute zero to achieve. Will try to Google later for the necessary information.

Actually, in his "Theory of Relatives," Lenny Einstein postulates how the sense of the passage of time is significantly affected by the stay of relatives in your home, especially at times of year like these. After just a couple of days, time seems to slow to a crawl and each hour feels like a month.

I myself have noticed the ancillary effects of time dilation since my Uncle Charlie has moved in with us over the holidays. Salami and bread rolls have inexplicably contracted in their lengths almost instantaneously, and not simply in the direction our refrigerator travels through the ether.

As you know, the time dilation and other Lorentz contractions result not just from very high velocities, but also occur in the presence of very large masses. As further confirmation of Lenny's Theory of Relatives, I've taken note that Uncle Charlie's mass has been increasing at an apparent exponential rate ever since he's begun his stay with us. And all relatives notice how time almost comes to a standstill when they approach Uncle Charlie's event horizon.

Sorry to bohr you with this.

On 2007-03-11 23:16, chrismatt wrote:
Daffydoug,

I remember that "Outer Limits" episode very well. I believe the hero was a test pilot who somehow got projected out of his crashing jet plane (like an "X-15") into the frozen world state. "Coincidentally," his wife is also projected into that same state, as her car was close enough to the crashing plane to drag her into it. In another incredible plot twist, the little girl they save (by tying the hero's belt to the emergency brake of the truck so that it would be drawn back as the truck moved forward) happens to be their own daughter! As I recall, there is some evil force/person also trapped in the "nowhere zone" with them, adding to the suspense.

Cliffg37 and mandrake01,

As for the science "fantasy" (as opposed to "fiction") of "Star Trek," there would be a barely plausible explanation for why time dilation effects would not be apparent. (Of course, no one on the ship would notice anything out of the ordinary, even if near light speed was routinely attained, as they would all age in the same time frame--but they certainly would notice their earth and planet bound friends and relatives were growing old and dying with astonishing frequency!) The "barely plausible explanation" would be if the Enterprise's "warp drive" could somehow warp (fold) the space between the ship and their destination, akin to opening up a "wormhole" (shortcut) between the two places. Then the ship would not really be travelling near (or, Heaven forfend, greater than) the speed of light--it would "simply" be travelling through a tear in the fabric of space-time from one place to another. In other words, "speed" would not really be involved, so much as quantum mechanical disappearances and appearances.

Certainly, this is terribly obvious to members of this site, since we are in the habit of making objects pop into and out of existence all the time!

Regards,
CM

On 2007-03-11 23:00, clynim wrote:...I do know that the speed of light is NOT constant. Scientists have been able to slow it down to truly human speeds. It requires a special material and temperatures close to absolute zero to achieve. Will try to Google later for the necessary information.