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A question of speed

Taking account of the earth's orbit of the sun, the sun's orbit of the galaxy and the galaxy's speed through the universe, how fast are we all travelling through space? and, as relativity tells us that the speed we travel affects time, what would happen if we stopped?

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Categories: Our universe, Planet Earth.

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Jon-Richfield says:

Depends on whom you ask. Newton would say: relative to whom? Or if you want an absolute fixed frame of reference, then how have you determined it relative to the rest of the universe?

Mach would have said "relative to the fixed stars", which is convenient but vague; most measures suggest that our frame of reference is pretty well symmetrical with the fixed stars in all directions, which  is at least a convenient explanation for the Michelson-Morley results.

Einstein might have said: your own frame of reference is stationary and for you it is the reference by which you measure everything else. You also will find that the one thing that you and all other observers agree on, is the speed of light in empty space. 

Simple, no?

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posted on 2010-12-19 14:55:08 | Report abuse

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This_is_me says:

Thanks Jon,

It's always good to have more stuff to not quite understand, it's the best inspiration to keep learning.

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posted on 2010-12-20 11:52:28 | Report abuse


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