Research Paper on Time Travel: Ideas for Modern Physics

[Tide]

it's for a humanities class

Oh, then that opens up even more possibilities! A variation on the grandfather paradox is always good - traveler goes back in time and prevents her grandparents from ever meeting etc. Or the causality paradox where the same traveler goes back in time to prevent her grandparents from meeting but ends up causing them to meet.

 

[George Jones]

Time travel is discussed from a variety of perspectives in "Time Machines: Time Travel in Physics, Metaphysics, and Science Fiction" by Paul J. Nahin, which is a wonderful book. Kip Thorne, a first-rate relativistist at Cal Tech, wrote a foreword for the second edition of this book. Here's a quote from his foreword: "It now is not only the most complete documentation of time travel in science fiction; it is also the most thorough review of serious scientific literature on the subject - a review that, remarkably, is scientifically accurate and at the same time largely accessible to a broad audience of nonspecialists."

See if your library has a copy of the second edition of this book; if not, get it through interlibrary loan. I think you'll find that this book has more than enough material for your paper.

Also, someone put the latest edition (Jan.? Feb. ?) of Astronomy Magazine on my desk today, and I noticed that the cover article is about time travel.

Regards,
George

 

[nbo10]

Ohh come now, you should be able to write a book on "Back to the Future". Pick something, it doesn't matter what, it's a humanities class. Make "something" up and justifiy that "something". It has nothing to do with physics.

Here's your thesis, just flush it out.

Back to the Future is the greatest movie ever, it has many deep philosophical levels. // Note the sarcasm

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

Sounds kinda stupid to be honest...

12 pages from a philisophical angle still seems like an insurmountable task. I mean all you can really ask are questions and I wouldn't think there's much out there to help answer or even think about those questions.

i got to do what i got to do :(

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

Time travel is discussed from a variety of perspectives in "Time Machines: Time Travel in Physics, Metaphysics, and Science Fiction" by Paul J. Nahin, which is a wonderful book. Kip Thorne, a first-rate relativistist at Cal Tech, wrote a foreword for the second edition of this book. Here's a quote from his foreword: "It now is not only the most complete documentation of time travel in science fiction; it is also the most thorough review of serious scientific literature on the subject - a review that, remarkably, is scientifically accurate and at the same time largely accessible to a broad audience of nonspecialists."
See if your library has a copy of the second edition of this book; if not, get it through interlibrary loan. I think you'll find that this book has more than enough material for your paper.
Also, someone put the latest edition (Jan.? Feb. ?) of Astronomy Magazine on my desk today, and I noticed that the cover article is about time travel.
Regards,
George

i do have Time Machine by Paul J Nahin right in front of me, but I think I have the first edition ... it should still work though

so suggest me a thesis statement please :(

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

Ohh come now, you should be able to write a book on "Back to the Future". Pick something, it doesn't matter what, it's a humanities class. Make "something" up and justifiy that "something". It has nothing to do with physics.

Here's your thesis, just flush it out.

Back to the Future is the greatest movie ever, it has many deep philosophical levels. // Note the sarcasm

yeah lol i was thinking something like "why do scifi movies portray time travel in such a wrong/weak way?"

and my friend was like ... "they're called FICTION for a reason"

I think he has a point :(

 

[Curious3141]

If you want an ethical dilemma (always good for a humans class), try this one : supposing time travel to the past were possible and you could alter history but not know the ramifications beforehand - would you go back in time to assassinate Hitler as a baby ? As a young adult before his ascent to power and before he committed genocide and started the second world war ?

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

If you want an ethical dilemma (always good for a humans class), try this one : supposing time travel to the past were possible and you could alter history but not know the ramifications beforehand - would you go back in time to assassinate Hitler as a baby ? As a young adult before his ascent to power and before he committed genocide and started the second world war ?

a very good idea ... but i think my teacher won't be very happy if i take it more towards history and ethical dilemma
see what i mean?
like the thesis you suggested is great, but it's not about time travel or sci fi or anything ... it's about hitler

 

[Maxwell]

like the thesis you suggested is great, but it's not about time travel or sci fi or anything ... it's about hitler

It most certainly is about time travel. You don't have to focus on Hitler, just on the ramifications of traveling back in time and potentially altering history. Explore the different paradoxes of time travel.

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

It most certainly is about time travel. You don't have to focus on Hitler, just on the ramifications of traveling back in time and potentially altering history. Explore the different paradoxes of time travel.

i see what you're saying ... but then why involve hitler? to make it spicier? (it also might be misleading ... but maybe not ... depends on how my prof views it)

also, just exploring different paradoxes won't help me cover 12 pages ... because there arent many paradoxes .. in fact there is just one BASIC paradox ... correct me if I'm wrong

 

[Maxwell]

i see what you're saying ... but then why involve hitler? to make it spicier? (it also might be misleading ... but maybe not ... depends on how my prof views it)

No, as an example of going back in time and making an insanely drastic change to history. I'd say killing Hitler as a child would effectively be the same thing as "re-writing" a good amount of history. Hitler is only one such example -- there are plenty -- Washington, Napoleon, Jesus, etc.

also, just exploring different paradoxes won't help me cover 12 pages ... because there arent many paradoxes .. in fact there is just one BASIC paradox ... correct me if I'm wrong

You're very wrong. Plus, you can spend a good portion discussing different methods of time travel, why it is or isn't physically possible, types of research going into time travel and other theories. Just think a little.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/time-travel-phys/
http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/GR/time_travel.html
Etc.

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

No, as an example of going back in time and making an insanely drastic change to history. I'd say killing Hitler as a child would effectively be the same thing as "re-writing" a good amount of history. Hitler is only one such example -- there are plenty -- Washington, Napoleon, Jesus, etc.
You're very wrong. Plus, you can spend a good portion discussing different methods of time travel, why it is or isn't physically possible, types of research going into time travel and other theories. Just think a little.
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/time-travel-phys/


http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/GR/time_travel.html
Etc.

well what i meant was ... the basic paradox is the changes you make in past, how do they affect the present... or do they?
now there are several catogaries ... like granny paradox etc or killing your younger self ...
yeah i know people think there are tons of paradoxes ... but when i think about them ... they just seem to me as different forms of the same paradox ... if you know what i mean

 

[Vixus]

yeah i know people think there are tons of paradoxes ... but when i think about them ... they just seem to me as different forms of the same paradox ... if you know what i mean

Uh... that's like saying pies and jelly are different forms of dessert.

 

[Pengwuino]

I don't buy this whole grandfather paradox crap. It seems like the very fact that you exist in a different time, the very fact that you move a molecule or fart in the wind could destroy all of history or something insane like that. It seems like if you walked up to your grandfather and tapped on him or closed a door behind him or any slight as hell thing and you could move some molecule or move some sperm a hundredth of an inch making it so that you arent the result of the sperm and egg that you eventually came out of. Everyone seems to take this paradox as involving these large single objects called "humans" and "animals" and what not. I see it as tremendous numbers of moving molecules and killing a human for the 'grandfather paradox' or whatever mainstream idea is the equivalent to just pushing someone in my view or even raising the temperature of the air around them.

If we look at this from a quantum mechanical view, it sounds like the universe would have to re-run the odds all over again unless there is some sort of system that indeed does turn quantum physics into something that is not based on probabilities, the universe would statistically have to be completely different. The smallest deviation when these probabilities are 'run' seems like it would just spread and multiply like a virus unless there woudl be some sort of dampening effect towards some sort of semi-pre-determined state of history which i can't think of at 8am in the morning with no sleep behind me.

ahhhh!

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

I don't buy this whole grandfather paradox crap. It seems like the very fact that you exist in a different time, the very fact that you move a molecule or fart in the wind could destroy all of history or something insane like that. It seems like if you walked up to your grandfather and tapped on him or closed a door behind him or any slight as hell thing and you could move some molecule or move some sperm a hundredth of an inch making it so that you arent the result of the sperm and egg that you eventually came out of. Everyone seems to take this paradox as involving these large single objects called "humans" and "animals" and what not. I see it as tremendous numbers of moving molecules and killing a human for the 'grandfather paradox' or whatever mainstream idea is the equivalent to just pushing someone in my view or even raising the temperature of the air around them.
If we look at this from a quantum mechanical view, it sounds like the universe would have to re-run the odds all over again unless there is some sort of system that indeed does turn quantum physics into something that is not based on probabilities, the universe would statistically have to be completely different. The smallest deviation when these probabilities are 'run' seems like it would just spread and multiply like a virus unless there woudl be some sort of dampening effect towards some sort of semi-pre-determined state of history which i can't think of at 8am in the morning with no sleep behind me.
ahhhh!

thats what i meant ... it all comes down to one basic paradox ...

anyway ... PLEASE HELP ME WITH MY PAPER ... It'll be such a big favor :(

 

[OptimusPrime]

This SHOULD NOT have to drag on for four pages. Why are you wasting so much time here instead of writing your paper? You could have been half way done by now. You're much too general for anyone to understand you. In 4 pages of talking to the other member's of this board, you're still at the starting gate. I mean come on what is going on here?

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

This SHOULD NOT have to drag on for four pages. Why are you wasting so much time here instead of writing your paper? You could have been half way done by now. You're much too general for anyone to understand you. In 4 pages of talking to the other member's of this board, you're still at the starting gate. I mean come on what is going on here?

yeah ... but I still couldn't get the help.
I have this problem that I cannot write and think clearly ... maybe that's why i confused you guys earlier
but i think i did explain my assignment more in detail ...
Here:
"I need to write a 12 page research paper on time travel for a humanities class ...

i need help developing thesis statement/question ... or just an argument in general

my prof suggested to include movies ... I'm not sure if that's a good idea

i might need to be more specific than that, I don't know ... I usually have hard time presenting my thoughts ... if you are still confused about my assignment, please let me know and i'll try to explain it more in detail :( "

 

[OptimusPrime]

There was a gap between 12/10 and 12/20 where you didn't right any messages here. When is the paper due?

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

There was a gap between 12/10 and 12/20 where you didn't right any messages here. When is the paper due?

the paper was due a while ago ... but i fell super sick ...
so they extended the deadline for me
but i still hafta turn in the paper as soon as possible, because I have another paper due from another class ... and I can't start workin on that paper until i get done with this one

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

the thesis statement I'm currently interested in is

"the way certain sci-fi movies portray time travel is wrong"

1) the probs with that is i don't want to talk about more than 2-3 movies in my paper

2) another prob is they're called FICTION for a reason, they never claim to be totally right anyway

 

[Wishbone]

3) Christopher Lloyd is one of the finest actors of our time.

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

3) Christopher Lloyd is one of the finest actors of our time.

excuse me?
hows that related to the topic

 

[Maxwell]

the thesis statement I'm currently interested in is
"the way certain sci-fi movies portray time travel is wrong"
1) the probs with that is i don't want to talk about more than 2-3 movies in my paper
2) another prob is they're called FICTION for a reason, they never claim to be totally right anyway

So discuss the "reality of time travel," and use the films to describe some misconceptions people have about time travel -- the philosophical and physical aspects of it.

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

So discuss the "reality of time travel," and use the films to describe some misconceptions people have about time travel -- the philosophical and physical aspects of it.

can i get away with using only 2-3 movies on time travel as examples?
in particular, I've seen back to the future I, donnie darko and terminator II ... i don't think i want to watch any other movies :(

also, my friend was like "uh they're FICTION... not real "
do you think I can still diss them movies bor being not quite right?

 

[Pengwuino]

can i get away with using only 2-3 movies on time travel as examples?
in particular, I've seen back to the future I, donnie darko and terminator II ... i don't think i want to watch any other movies :(
also, my friend was like "uh they're FICTION... not real "
do you think I can still diss them movies bor being not quite right?

No, they are science fiction so they were never meant to be accurate nor advertised themselves as accurate so you have no basis to make fun of them. Also, it is not necessarily true that the movies were wrong since we don't even know if that kinda time traveling is possible in the first place.

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

No, they are science fiction so they were never meant to be accurate nor advertised themselves as accurate so you have no basis to make fun of them. Also, it is not necessarily true that the movies were wrong since we don't even know if that kinda time traveling is possible in the first place.

can my thesis statement be something like "scifi movies on time travel do not quite portray what physicists theoratically believe about time travel"

i mean i won't make fun of the movies ... i'll just compare and contrast between what actual theories say and what the movies portray

man I'm in such a mess

 

[Pengwuino]

I think you should take a philisophical approach to what would happen if it were possible. As far as I know, time travel in this sense is not taken seriosuly by anyone in academia.

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

I think you should take a philisophical approach to what would happen if it were possible. As far as I know, time travel in this sense is not taken seriosuly by anyone in academia.

time travel in what sense?

 

[Pengwuino]

being able to go back and forth from say, the 1800's to the 2400's and crap like that. The joke around here is that everyone is traveling through time at 60seconds/minute haha.

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

being able to go back and forth from say, the 1800's to the 2400's and crap like that. The joke around here is that everyone is traveling through time at 60seconds/minute haha.

haha

well i got to do what i got to do

i need to write 12 page double-spaced research paper on time travel ... i just can't develop a thesis statement...

my prof suggested me to dissect back to the future using theories associated with time travel. the problem i can't writr 12 pages on it :/

plus it's not that great of a sci fi movie anyway ... it's entertaining and all ... but not that much about sci fi

 

[SaturnV]

I don't know if you are still looking for a thesis to write your paper on, however, I do have one suggestion. A while back I read a book I believe was called The Science of Star Wars. Essentially this book was a discussion on what aspects of the movies were possible, and how they would be accomplished. If you look at the different aspects of time travel presented in each of the movies, how it is done, what the effects are, etc. you may get some ideas. A thesis could then be comprised of the typical results of each of these catagories.

 

[Stephan Hoyer]

Do you have an assignment for this class? What subject area is the class in?

Time travel (in the backwards sense) is not something that almost any physicists take seriously in any practical sense. There few theories of time travel, and almost none are anything like what are shown in movies.

Some real topics in Physics that relate to time travel:
- Special relativity (relative slowing down of time allows for travel forwards in time, in some sense)
- Quantum entanglement (apparently instanteous collapse entails potential violations of relativity to which there are no clear solutions, but for which backwards time propagation may be a solution)
- General relativity (i.e. wormholes and the like, connections between far off places in space and time)

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

I don't know if you are still looking for a thesis to write your paper on, however, I do have one suggestion. A while back I read a book I believe was called The Science of Star Wars. Essentially this book was a discussion on what aspects of the movies were possible, and how they would be accomplished. If you look at the different aspects of time travel presented in each of the movies, how it is done, what the effects are, etc. you may get some ideas. A thesis could then be comprised of the typical results of each of these catagories.

what you suggested is quite good... but my prof won't be too happy about it
she wanted me to base it on movies (she suggested back to the future)

 

[sweetvirgogirl]

Do you have an assignment for this class? What subject area is the class in?

Time travel (in the backwards sense) is not something that almost any physicists take seriously in any practical sense. There few theories of time travel, and almost none are anything like what are shown in movies.

Some real topics in Physics that relate to time travel:
- Special relativity (relative slowing down of time allows for travel forwards in time, in some sense)
- Quantum entanglement (apparently instanteous collapse entails potential violations of relativity to which there are no clear solutions, but for which backwards time propagation may be a solution)
- General relativity (i.e. wormholes and the like, connections between far off places in space and time)

it is for a humanities class (yeah... not for a physics class lol)

i just can't develop the focus for my paper ... a thesis statement

 

[Jelfish]

Does your paper have to be in any specific structure and have you already written a lot of it?

I was thinking that it would be kind of cool (esp. for a humanities class) if you wrote your paper in several fictional short stories (I don't know, maybe this is more of your style?). One could be about the grandfather paradox. You could start it off with you sitting in your room, thinking about how to write this paper. Add in a few paragraphs about you agonizing over some specific ideas in relativity (to sneak in some science). Then instead, you decided to try making your own time machine of some sort (I dunno, maybe you find instructions online) and it works! Then you could write about how you go back in time and do fun stuff, but then you accidentally do something serious and your time machine breaks and you go back to your own time and see the ramifications. Maybe that's really trite, but it could quickly fill in 12 pages if you're descriptive and good at writing, especially if you make a few stories surrounding some of the topics mentioned in this thread.

good luck.