Relativity Q: Dick & Jane Twins - Signals Received?

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In summary, Dick and Jane are twins and Dick goes on a space voyage at 0.8c to a star 20 light-years away while Jane stays on Earth. They each send a radio signal once a year while Dick is away. It is unclear from the conversation whose reference frame the star's distance is based on and when they will count the signals, but ultimately they should both receive the same number of signals.
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How would you make the first move in this type of question:

Dick and Jane are twins. Dick goes off on a space voyage at a speed of 0.8c to a star 20 light-years away, while Jane stays behind on Earth. Dick and Jane each send out a radio signal once a year while Dick is away. How many signals does Dick receive? How many does Jane receive?
 
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First off, is the star 20 light years away according to Jane's reference frame or Dick's? Secondly, after how long and according to whose frame do they count up the signals? Anyway, they should both count the same number of signals.
 
  • #3
hmm... you're right~
wow! you ask some pretty good questions~
 
  • #4
@@a
that's getting hard to analyze...
 

FAQ: Relativity Q: Dick & Jane Twins - Signals Received?

1. What is the theory of relativity?

The theory of relativity is a theory proposed by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century that explains the relationship between space and time. It is based on the idea that the laws of physics are the same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion.

2. How does the theory of relativity relate to the Dick and Jane twins and signals received?

In the famous "twin paradox" thought experiment, one twin (Dick) stays on Earth while the other twin (Jane) travels through space at high speeds. When Jane returns to Earth, she has aged less than Dick due to the effects of time dilation predicted by the theory of relativity. The signals received by each twin during their journey would also be affected by the relative motion and time dilation.

3. What is time dilation and how does it work?

Time dilation is the phenomenon where time appears to run slower for an object in motion compared to an object at rest. This is due to the fact that the speed of light is constant and the theory of relativity predicts that time and space are relative to the observer's frame of reference. As an object's speed increases, time appears to slow down for that object relative to a stationary observer.

4. What is the difference between special and general relativity?

Special relativity deals with objects in uniform motion while general relativity extends the theory to include objects in accelerated motion and the effects of gravity. In other words, special relativity deals with objects moving at constant speeds, while general relativity accounts for objects in non-constant motion and how gravity affects the fabric of spacetime.

5. How has the theory of relativity been proven?

The theory of relativity has been proven through numerous experiments and observations, including the famous Michelson-Morley experiment which showed that the speed of light is constant in all directions. Additionally, the predictions of the theory, such as time dilation, have been confirmed through high-precision experiments and observations, making it one of the most well-supported theories in physics.

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