this post was submitted on 27 May 2025
53 points (94.9% liked)

Explain Like I'm Five

17012 readers
35 users here now

Simplifying Complexity, One Answer at a Time!

Rules

  1. Be respectful and inclusive.
  2. No harassment, hate speech, or trolling.
  3. Engage in constructive discussions.
  4. Share relevant content.
  5. Follow guidelines and moderators' instructions.
  6. Use appropriate language and tone.
  7. Report violations.
  8. Foster a continuous learning environment.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Rikudou_Sage@lemmy.world
rikudou@lemmings.world
sabbah@lemmy.world
AradFort@lemmy.world
Don_Dickle@lemmy.world
53
ELI5: Why does time slow down for something as it approaches the speed of light but then are suddenly fast when they are the speed of light or faster? (lemmy.wtf)
submitted 1 week ago by CraigOhMyEggoAlt@lemmy.wtf to c/explainlikeimfive@lemmy.world
19 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

This never made any sense to me whatsoever.

I've see all the physicists (Michio Kaku, Stephen Hawking, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, etc.) explain this principle but it doesn't make sense. They say that if you were to go to the moon and back at a certain speed near the speed of light, you might return to Earth a thousand years into the future like what happened in Planet of the Apes. But if you were going at the speed of light, you would arrive at the time light takes to arrive there. Why the dip? What is being missed?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] JackGreenEarth@lemm.ee 3 points 1 week ago

No, you would physiologically age at the same fast-forwarded time rate. Essentially, for you, less time would pass at the same time that more time passes for the outside world.