Age of Universe for High Velocity Planet?

In summary, the conversation discusses the age of the universe and how it is affected by different frames of reference and the concept of cosmic time. There is a debate about whether the age of the universe is dependent on the velocity of a planet or if it is determined by the Hubble constant and other cosmological parameters. Some argue that there is a preferred frame of reference, while others believe that it is simply a matter of definition. Overall, the discussion highlights the complex and philosophical nature of time in relation to the universe.
  • #1
icantevenn
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Hello,
I think it was Kurt Gödel who asked this while taking about time. The age of the universe and its size, is whatever it is for us because we are moving at a specific speed relative to light? If that is true, then a consciousness living on a planet moving at triple the speed of Earth relative to light will observe a different age of the universe? Please help.
 
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  • #2
Welcome to the Physics Forums.

There is no such thing as a "speed relative to light". Speed relative to an object is shorthand for "speed as determined in a reference frame where the object is at rest". There are no reference frames in which light is motionless. More generally, in both special and general relativity, there is no frame of reference which is picked out by the laws of physics as being in any way "special".

However it is possible to pick out a reference frame in which the large scale features of the universe are "isotropic". Roughly speaking, if you are at rest in this frame, the universe looks the same no matter which direction you look. For instance, there is no systematic blue shift of the light from stars off in one direction and no corresponding red shift of the light from stars off in the opposite direction. If you were in motion relative to this frame, there would be systematic blue shifts and red shifts of this sort.

The age of the universe -- the elapsed proper time of a hypothetical observer who is moving with respect to an isotropic frame would indeed be lower than that for an observer who is stationary with respect to that frame.

It is standard practice in cosmology to report the age of the universe using coordinates in which the large scale structure of the universe is isotropic.

[What I write above is basically a regurgitation of what I have learned on these forums]
 
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  • #3
I don't think age of universe depend velocity of a planet.It depends Hubble constant and some parameter( Which they are ##Ω_r,Ω_m,Ω_Λ...##).Further info look this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_the_universe cosmological parameters section.Or you can watch this video.The important thing is Hubble constant.

D=a(t).x then differantiate it respect to time you get V=a'(t)x now divide a(t) the equation V=a'(t)x you get V/a(t)=a'(t)/a(t)x then V=a'(t)/a(t)xa(t) the black font is equal D and italic font equal H so Hubble constant is a'(t)/a(t) so its depends time of universe not another thing.
I want to say I might be wrong

 
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  • #4
Age of the universe per Hubble constant is simply age per clocks moving with the Hubble flow, that is clocks for which isotropy and homogeneity are observed. It is no more intrinsic than any other coordinate dependent notion of time, e.g. the time coordinate of the exterior Schwarzschild metric (which is time as measured by static clocks at 'infinity').

What jbriggs444 wrote is a perfectly good answer.

To provide a hypothetical realization: If, early in the life of universe, a super-massive BH formed (not plausible, but this is a thought experiment), with a planet orbiting at the closest stable circular orbit, the time elapsed since the big bang would indeed be substantially less than for a typical planet. Using the conventional factorization possible for a spherically symmetric field, part of this would be due to 'gravitational time dilation' and part would be due to very high orbital speed of the planet relative to static observers.
 
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  • #5
This seems such a fascinating thing from a philosophical point of view.

“Matter in motion determines the shape of space-time. The possibility arises that some reference frames might be privileged, namely those that follow, as Gödel put it, the mean motion of matter in the universe. Time relative to those frames of reference bears the designation “cosmic time,” and this opens up the possibility that time in something like the pretheoretical sense might after all be consistent with relativity, in particular with general relativity. It is time in this sense that is (or should be) invoked when cosmologists speak of the age of the universe.”

Excerpt From: Yourgrau, Palle. “A World Without Time.” Basic Books, 2011-12-01. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

What are your thoughts on this "mean motion of matter"?
 
  • #6
icantevenn said:
This seems such a fascinating thing from a philosophical point of view.

“Matter in motion determines the shape of space-time. The possibility arises that some reference frames might be privileged, namely those that follow, as Gödel put it, the mean motion of matter in the universe. Time relative to those frames of reference bears the designation “cosmic time,” and this opens up the possibility that time in something like the pretheoretical sense might after all be consistent with relativity, in particular with general relativity. It is time in this sense that is (or should be) invoked when cosmologists speak of the age of the universe.”

Excerpt From: Yourgrau, Palle. “A World Without Time.” Basic Books, 2011-12-01. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.

What are your thoughts on this "mean motion of matter"?

That's a valid point of view, but note, it describes this point of view as 'possibly consistent with general relativity', not required by it. One can choose to imagine there is preferred frame in SR, and get universally correct answers. A cosmological preferred coordinate system has much more utility and motivation than an SR preferred frame, but it can never be considered required or intrinsic in GR (per se). However, it is simply a matter of definition that when you say "age of the universe" without any description of a special point of view, you mean age per standard cosmological coordinates (or equivalently, more physically, age per any clock that 'sees' isotropy and homogeneity).
 
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  • #7
RyanH42 said:
I don't think age of universe depend velocity of a planet.It depends Hubble constant and some parameter( Which they are ##Ω_r,Ω_m,Ω_Λ...##).Further info look this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_the_universe cosmological parameters section.Or you can watch this video.The important thing is Hubble constant.

D=a(t).x then differantiate it respect to time you get V=a'(t)x now divide a(t) the equation V=a'(t)x you get V/a(t)=a'(t)/a(t)x then V=a'(t)/a(t)xa(t) the black font is equal D and italic font equal H so Hubble constant is a'(t)/a(t) so its depends time of universe not another thing.
I want to say I might be wrong

Is that Air in D? Wow, this looks like Phinds' balloon analogy only backwards :smile:
 
  • #8
Stephanus said:
Is that Air in D? Wow, this looks like Phinds' balloon analogy only backwards :smile:
Yeah that's right
 

Related to Age of Universe for High Velocity Planet?

1. What is the estimated age of the universe?

The estimated age of the universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old. This age is determined through various scientific methods, such as measuring the expansion rate of the universe and studying the cosmic microwave background radiation.

2. How does the age of the universe relate to high velocity planets?

The age of the universe is important in understanding the formation and evolution of high velocity planets. These planets are thought to have formed early in the history of the universe, and their movements can provide clues about the early universe and its structure.

3. Can the age of the universe be calculated precisely?

While the estimated age of the universe is 13.8 billion years old, it is not a precise number. There is still ongoing research and debate among scientists about the exact age of the universe, and new discoveries and technologies may lead to more accurate calculations in the future.

4. How does the age of the universe affect our understanding of the universe?

The age of the universe is a crucial factor in our understanding of the universe. It helps us understand the origin of the universe, its expansion, and the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets. It also allows us to study the evolution of the universe and make predictions about its future.

5. Does the age of the universe have any significance for life on Earth?

The age of the universe has a direct impact on the formation and evolution of our solar system and planet. Without the formation of the universe and the subsequent creation of stars and planets, life on Earth would not have been possible. Therefore, the age of the universe is significant in understanding the conditions that led to the development of life on our planet.

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