Science People…need a layman's explanation

[Chillwell]

Ok…so the wife and I watched Interstellar a couple of nights ago.

I had a weird reaction. It's one of the few times I can remember being totally engrossed by a movie…cared about the characters, lots of interesting action and mystery, etc. Yet, when it was over, I couldn't decided if I liked it. On a general sense, ya, it was entertaining. Yet, I was so damed confused by much of it, I'm like what the hell did I just watch.

Ok…so my question for you smart guys…Relativity and time travel.

I understand the basic idea (I think)… a person traveling at great speeds...that person's clock does not move at the same speed as an individual elsewhere, like one in space v. one on earth - Einstein's space travel twin example. I also remember the Chuck Heston Planet of the Apes…I believe it was based upon this theory. I also read where the theory has basically been verified in particle accelerators or something like that.

So, I'll admit…I'm not very bright when it comes to these things…BUT can someone explain WHY this happens? I just have a tough time understanding the logic of this.

 

[Marshal Jim Duncan]

In a nutshell, it comes down to the fact that the speed of light is always constant, no matter what.

Combine this with the fact that combined speed of any object's motion through space and its motion through time is always precisely equal to the speed of light, and you have the explanation.

 

[JonnyVito]

First you have to ask yourself what is time really.

 

[ThorOdinson13]

The speed of light is constant but time is not. If a clock is in motion it makes the path that the electrical pulse has to travel within the electromagnetic field longer which slows time. Look up "why does a moving clock slow down."

There are some easy to read explanations. The easiest to understand is the one that uses a light clock as the example.

 

[Air_Thurman]

 

[EvilPOKES]

Time is constant in that it only travels in one direction. Gravity can manipulate the accuracy and the measurement of time, but it always moves forward.

The speed of light is constant regardless of reference frame.

 

[JonnyVito]

Basically you bend time and space in such a form that you would "travel back in time" but the watch thing was about one watch on Earth staying constant but the watch in space will slow or speed up depending on what is within their space (like a sun bigger then ours or maybe they land on a plant with a bigger mass then Earth).

 

[Cordellhall83]

Chill, I watched the movie two weeks ago and I am still not sure what I watched.

 

[100TonsofOrangeFury]

Chill, I watched the movie two weeks ago and I am still not sure what I watched.

Wanted to like that movie, but despised it. I can only handle about 2 crazy life and death climaxes per movie. That one had about 15.

Then wouldn't end.

Way overwrought.

 

[long-duc-dong]