Comments on: Special relativity and the startup paradox http://www.xobni.com/blog/2007/07/12/special-relativity-and-the-startup-paradox/ Outlook Search Add In Creators Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:24:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7-beta3-9858 hourly 1 By: Dave http://www.xobni.com/blog/2007/07/12/special-relativity-and-the-startup-paradox/comment-page-1/#comment-11838 Dave Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:12:12 +0000 http://www.xobni.com/blog/2007/07/12/special-relativity-and-the-startup-paradox/#comment-11838 Yeah, about that twin paradox...it sounds nice in theory but has some holes. Specifically, special relativity only holds for constant velocities, but a return trip implies that there is acceleration involved to head back home. If the twin at home sends out regular flashes of light, it makes sense that the twin traveling away will perceive those flashes of light as happening at a lower frequency (doppler effect). However, upon return, those flashes are perceived at a higher frequency. The average flash rate for the trip is the same for both twins, and they will find that they are the same age. You could also look at it this way: the twin at home is on a planet speeding around a sun, which is in a galaxy moving at some speed, which itself is moving at some speed. Who is to say that the twin at home is the fixed frame of reference? If we consider the twin on the rocket to be on the fixed frame, then by all accounts the twin at home will have aged. Since neither can definitively have the fixed frame of reference, we can conclude that this paradox is merely an illogical extension of someone's misconceptions regarding special relativity. On the bright side, you can relax and know that the world will not have changed much by the time you release Duke Nukem Forever....err...Spore...umm...I mean, Xobni... :) Yeah, about that twin paradox…it sounds nice in theory but has some holes. Specifically, special relativity only holds for constant velocities, but a return trip implies that there is acceleration involved to head back home.

If the twin at home sends out regular flashes of light, it makes sense that the twin traveling away will perceive those flashes of light as happening at a lower frequency (doppler effect). However, upon return, those flashes are perceived at a higher frequency. The average flash rate for the trip is the same for both twins, and they will find that they are the same age.

You could also look at it this way: the twin at home is on a planet speeding around a sun, which is in a galaxy moving at some speed, which itself is moving at some speed. Who is to say that the twin at home is the fixed frame of reference? If we consider the twin on the rocket to be on the fixed frame, then by all accounts the twin at home will have aged. Since neither can definitively have the fixed frame of reference, we can conclude that this paradox is merely an illogical extension of someone’s misconceptions regarding special relativity.

On the bright side, you can relax and know that the world will not have changed much by the time you release Duke Nukem Forever….err…Spore…umm…I mean, Xobni… :)

]]> By: E^2 http://www.xobni.com/blog/2007/07/12/special-relativity-and-the-startup-paradox/comment-page-1/#comment-11695 E^2 Sat, 21 Jul 2007 20:07:38 +0000 http://www.xobni.com/blog/2007/07/12/special-relativity-and-the-startup-paradox/#comment-11695 bro, it's a win-win situation: regardless of outcome, the experience gained and the lessons learned will be invaluable. afterwards, make sure to swing by and share some stories with me over a drink in redondo! eXe bro, it’s a win-win situation: regardless of outcome, the experience gained and the lessons learned will be invaluable.

afterwards, make sure to swing by and share some stories with me over a drink in redondo!

eXe

]]> By: art http://www.xobni.com/blog/2007/07/12/special-relativity-and-the-startup-paradox/comment-page-1/#comment-11183 art Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:33:45 +0000 http://www.xobni.com/blog/2007/07/12/special-relativity-and-the-startup-paradox/#comment-11183 Dude, Keep travelling at light speed till you expire. I am living the alternative: Mortgage, cubicle, mindless c/assembler coding at a defense contracto,...Hopefully I'll get in the YC fall funding and end this waste... Dude,

Keep travelling at light speed till you expire. I am living the alternative: Mortgage, cubicle, mindless c/assembler coding at a defense contracto,…Hopefully I’ll get in the YC fall funding and end this waste…

]]> By: mark http://www.xobni.com/blog/2007/07/12/special-relativity-and-the-startup-paradox/comment-page-1/#comment-11145 mark Fri, 13 Jul 2007 04:44:10 +0000 http://www.xobni.com/blog/2007/07/12/special-relativity-and-the-startup-paradox/#comment-11145 Great blog, can't wait for my Xobni killer app. Great blog, can’t wait for my Xobni killer app.

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