- #1
_StrongArm_
- 5
- 0
I was thinking of this problem recently and thought it'd be best if I got an answer from a physicist (or anyone else who'd know how to solve this).
Imagine a thin rubber pipe about a meter long. Holding each end of the pipe with both hands (respectively), you bend the ends inwards to form a torus (circle) with a gap where your hands are. Firmly gripping the ends of the pipe, by twisting your left hand, your right hand instantly feels the right end of the pipe twist as well, and vice versa.
Now hypothetically speaking, imagine if this pipe were the size of the universe (or at least large enough where the speed of light would take considerable time to travel it's length). With the same setup as above, if I were to simultaneously twist the right side clockwise and the left size ANTI-clockwise;
- What direction is the pipe twisting?
- What happens when these twists (moving at the speed of light) meet?
- Is this a physical paradox whereby a single object can exist in two states at once?
Even more puzzling;
- What happens if I shift both my hands outwards in opposite directions? (in comparison to doing this with the 1m pipe, where moving my left hand outwards in reference to the circle would see the other end of the pipe replace the area where my left hand was)
Answers appreciated.
Imagine a thin rubber pipe about a meter long. Holding each end of the pipe with both hands (respectively), you bend the ends inwards to form a torus (circle) with a gap where your hands are. Firmly gripping the ends of the pipe, by twisting your left hand, your right hand instantly feels the right end of the pipe twist as well, and vice versa.
Now hypothetically speaking, imagine if this pipe were the size of the universe (or at least large enough where the speed of light would take considerable time to travel it's length). With the same setup as above, if I were to simultaneously twist the right side clockwise and the left size ANTI-clockwise;
- What direction is the pipe twisting?
- What happens when these twists (moving at the speed of light) meet?
- Is this a physical paradox whereby a single object can exist in two states at once?
Even more puzzling;
- What happens if I shift both my hands outwards in opposite directions? (in comparison to doing this with the 1m pipe, where moving my left hand outwards in reference to the circle would see the other end of the pipe replace the area where my left hand was)
Answers appreciated.
Last edited: