Time Dilation Visualized

This video explores time dilation, an effect explained by Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity. The video starts by showing that time dilation can prolong the life of a short-lived particle, allowing it to witness events that it couldn't experience if it had its normal short life. The video then focuses on what the particle itself sees. The two accounts of what happens are strikingly different, but are consistent! All observers agree that the particle witnesses an event that it couldn't witness if space and time followed the common-sense rules of Classical Mechanics.

It explains what happens to muons entering the Earth's atmosphere. It is a real-life example of the effects explained in this video.

#physics #space #time #relativity #paradox

=== Technical details ===

All objects in the animation are simulated as Born-rigid bodies. The bodies are discretized into meshes with 3x3 vertices. Each vertex follows a piece-wise hyperbolic trajectory.

The video shows the "measured reality" and not the "observed reality". So what you see is what an inertial observer would measure, rather than what an hypothetical camera would record.

=== Credits ===

Thanks to all my patrons and, in particular, to those in the Early Supporter tier:

- SirCypher
- qb20nh
- Sketches&Spaghetti
- Usagi

=== Useful links ===

=== Soundtrack ===

Luminescence by Benjamin Lazzarus

[wahoo]

Before I watched this video, I didn't understand special relativity. Now, I understand even less. 10/10, looking forward to seeing your game come out.

[saggitt]

Fascinating... But I had to pause each time to carefully read what you wrote :)

[Z_Inspector]

I can't wait for the game, and i also can't wait for more videos! I hope this project becomes everything you hope it does.

[victorhansson]

awesome, thanks for this! i feel like slightly fewer examples and a little longer time to read would help. I also failed to notice how the particle was moving until it was obvious, but that may be just me. I get hyped with these videos though so I hope you keep them coming!

[darkracer]

making a video game based around these concepts is what we need.
it makes kids instinctivly familliar with the concept.
and they might be the ones to invent warp travel.

[TheMasonX]

Great job! As others have noted, the captions were just a little fast, but otherwise very informative! Good on you dor taking constructive feedback well, you're a great person and I appreciate your passion for physics and desire to share it :)

[ChicoCreeper]

I was just fighting with fangs and claws to try and imagine the fact that at speeds closer to the light, you perceive the direction of light sources that are outside of your field of view... in front of youuuu????
I get the "when running in the rain, you perceive as if the droplets are tilting towards you, but in reality, they are not" example
But I'm not seeing stuff that's out of my reach, I try to imagine, but I can't
So I'm glad you are developing this stuff

[EVILBUNNY]

As time slows the closer you approach the speed of light, that means traveling the speed of light time stops completely? So photons of light are both simultaneously created and destroyed in the same instant, relative to themselves? Since time does not exist for them, they all experience the birth and death of the universe, but how is this possible if photons are clearly emitted at different time periods and have different ages (think a torch emitting photons, now, in an hour, 1, 000 years, a billion years etc.), but to themselves would all experience the same duration of time passing, i.e none at all?

[leonhardtkristensen]

I believe that it is a fact anything moving lives longer (unless it get's worn out). That is because there is an inherent slowness or inertia in all atoms and electrons. Any reaction happens a the speed of c (the speed of light and all other electro magnetic interaction in vacuum). I am however in doubt if the principle that all observers have equal right to say that they are in rest. I come to that conclusion from that the speed of a vehicle is not added to the speed of an EME (electro magnetic emission of which light is one). The EME speed is there fore an absolute speed.

[MichaelDarrow-trmn]

isn't there already 2 games with relativistic effects in them
velocity raptor by test tube games
a slower speed of light (i don't remember who this one is by)