Temporal Paradox of Photons
Sven Gelbhaar
21 October 2008
Special Relativity tells us that as an object’s speed increases, it moves
faster in time. (1) This peaks off when it reaches the speed of light,
where time would cease to pass from that object’s perspective. Let us
explore this a little further.
What do we know travels at the speed of light? Light itself comes to mind.
So, according to the theory of Special Relativity, time does not pass for
light.
Let’s see if this holds true, shall we? It takes a little bit over 8
minutes for light to reach Earth from the Sun, from our perspective. (2)
However this means that the Earth isn’t in the same configuration when this
light reaches us as when it was when the light first left the Sun. Eight
minutes (by our reckoning) of events took place between those two points in
time. How can this be, if time does not pass for photons?
This just goes to demonstrate that Special Relativity at bottom is an
example of mistaking our misperception for reality. I posit that time only
appears to be slowing down as one’s velocity increases, but that no such
thing actually takes place. Only time will tell if I’m right.
References
1.
http://nimbleit.squarespace.com/the-blog/2006/11/15/why-time-slows-when-app
roaching-the-speed-of-light-a-simple-.html 21 October 2008
2.
http://www.universetoday.com/guide-to-space/earth/how-long-does-it-take-sun
light-to-reach-the-earth/ 21 October 2008