Did you know that time
travel is possible? Using highly accurate atomic clocks and a flight to Shanghai, we can
demonstrate time travel in action. Click on the links to see the clocks before and after
the experiment.
Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock
Einstein's Theory of Relativity demonstrates how time travel can occur. He showed us that
time is not as simple as tick-tock! Time is relative, one person's perception of time may
run at a different rate to another's. Time depends on the observer, and it becomes
relative when we are in motion. This means that the time on a moving clock runs slower
than the time on a stationary clock.
Atomic Time
The atomic caesium clock was developed in 1955 to accurately measure the length of a
second. Modern time is defined by measuring the oscillations of caesium 133 atoms. These
caesium clocks accurately define a second as 9, 192, 631, 770 vibrations per second!
We can use two atomic clocks to demonstrate that time travel is possible. We can send one atomic clock on a
plane journey, and leave a second, synchronised atomic clock in a laboratory. Because
time on a moving clock runs slower than the time on a stationary clock, we can expect the
time on the flying clock to go slower than the time on the stationary clock.
When the 'flying' clock returns
from its journey, we can compare its time to the stationary clock and see if
Einstein's Theory of Relativity is true.
Experiment Information
Flight Data
Ground Speed of plane =250 m/s (900 Km/hr)
Altitude = 33,000 ft (10,000 m)
Distance = 5900 miles (9400 Km)
Out Bound
13.12.99 Clock one departs from Heathrow airport for Shanghai at 16:15.
14.12.99 Clock one arrives at Shanghai at 11:20 (GMT +8 hours)
Return
14.12.99 Clock one departs Shanghai at 13:20 (GMT +8 hours)
14:12:99 Clock one arrives London Heathrow at 17:50 (GMT)
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