TIME TRAVEL

Prepared by: Robel Gizachew

• Time travel is the concept of movement between certain points in time, analogous to movement between different
points in space by an object or a person, typically with the use of a hypothetical device known as a time machine.
Time travel is a widely recognized concept in philosophy and fiction, particularly science fiction. The idea of a time
machine was popularized by H. G. Wells 1895 novel The Time Machine.
• It is uncertain if time travel to the past is physically possible, and such travel, if at all feasible, may give rise to
questions of causality. Forward time travel, outside the usual sense of the perception of time, is an extensively
observed phenomenon and well-understood within the framework of special relativity and general relativity
• Some ancient myths depict a character skipping forward in time. In Hindu mythology, the Vishnu Purana mentions
the story of King Raivata Kakudmi, who travels to heaven to meet the creator Brahma and is surprised to learn
when he returns to Earth that many ages have passed
HOW CAN WE ACHIEVE TIME TRAVEL?
In 2009 the British physicist Stephen Hawking held a party for time travelers – the twist was he sent out the invites a
year later (No guests showed up). Time travel is probably impossible. Even if it were possible, Hawking and others
have argued that you could never travel back before the moment your time machine was built.
But travel to the future? That’s a different story.
Of course, we are all time travelers as we are swept along in the current of time, from past to future, at a rate of one
hour per hour.
But, as with a river, the current flows at different speeds in different places. Science as we know it allows for several
methods to take the fast-track into the future. Here’s a rundown.
1. TIME TRAVEL VIA SPEED
This is the easiest and most practical way to time travel into the far future – go really fast.
According to Einstein’s theory of special relativity, when you travel at speeds approaching the speed of light, time
slows down for you relative to the outside world.
This is not a just a conjecture or thought experiment – it’s been measured. Using twin atomic clocks (one flown in a
jet aircraft, the other stationary on Earth) physicists have shown that a flying clock ticks slower, because of its speed
And the closer you get to the speed of light, the more extreme the time-travel.
The highest speeds achieved through any human technology are probably the protons whizzing around the Large
Hadron Collider at 99.9999991% of the speed of light. Using special relativity we can calculate one second for the
proton is equivalent to 27,777,778 seconds, or about 11 months, for us.
2. TIME TRAVEL VIA GRAVITY
The next method of time travel is also inspired by Einstein. According to his theory of general relativity, the stronger
the gravity you feel, the slower time moves.
As you get closer to the center of the Earth, for example, the strength of gravity increases. Time runs slower for your
feet than your head.
Again, this effect has been measured. In 2010, physicists at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) placed two atomic clocks on shelves, one 33 centimeters above the other, and measured the difference in
their rate of ticking. The lower one ticked slower because it feels a slightly stronger gravity.
To travel to the far future, all we need is a region of extremely strong gravity, such as a black hole. The closer you get
to the event horizon, the slower time moves – but it’s risky business, cross the boundary and you can never escape.