Minipaper:
Who can program the Einstein Rocketship?
Otto E. Rossler1 and Yaël Kolb1,2
1Faculty of Science, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
2University of Design (HfG), Lorenzstrasse 15, 76135 Karlsruhe, Germany
Abstract
A computer-game appropriate version of the famous Einstein equivalence principle of 1907 is proposed. Surprising implications predictably follow. They appear to be worth checking.
(February 27, 2018)
The Einstein rocketship of 1907 consists of a constantly accelerating vertical strip (interpretable as the interior of a rocketship) and a light ray emitted vertically up from the bottom to the tip.
Einstein first solved this typical computer game problem in his mind and in this way predicted out of the blue sky the famous “gravitational redshift”: The ascending light ray is on arrival at the tip slowed in its frequency by a negative Doppler effect (like the sound of a departing ambulance) because the point of origin of the vertical light ray is constantly falling back from the tip even though the distance remains unchanged.
The Einstein task just described is only the first step (one-dimensional case). It has never been simulated as is of course possible and indeed desirable. Einstein then looked also at the two-dimensional case: How does a horizontal light ray that hugs the floor of the rocketship appear from the tip if made visible through some dust in the air down there? (This later became the light clock – a laser pulse inside a glass tube with reflecting ends and a bit of dust to make it visible to the outside.)
Programming this 2-D game to make it totally transparent as well will be more difficult but is bound to teach something new. While a light pulse is progressing horizontally down there, the bottom is constantly falling back from the tip while paradoxically keeping its distance again. Therefore, the horizontally advancing light pulse downstairs does so necessarily in a downwards-slanted fashion relative to the tip.
Mega-large consequences follow from this up until now only mental observation: The light path downstairs is increased in length owing to its being slanted relative to the tip everywhere locally, without appearing shortened thereby though since special relativity preserves optical width. Hence the slowdown visible from above, stressed by Einstein, reflects the fact that all objects downstairs are increased in size relative to above by the gravitational redshift factor. So the speed of light downstairs is, against appearances, not reduced downstairs.
If the proposed computer game confirms this prediction, revolutionary consequences follow suit. One of them reads: “No Big Bang,” because the speed of light is a global constant again according to the computer game so that sufficiently distant points in the universe can no longer recede superluminally from each other.
Can the proposed “Einstein computer game” ECG perhaps already be implemented by utilizing an existing portal like “gamelab”?
We thank Susan J. Feingold and Andrei Ujica for stimulation. For J.O.R.
Reference
https://code.org/educate/gamelab
1th Answer
@ Otto E. Rossler
Dear Mr. Rossler,
do you remember the `Melde-Reiter-Rätsel´ (?report-rider -riddle?) we talked about?
If one is able to program the `Einstein Rocketship´ he also will be able to do it by the conditions of my riddle. That could bring details in scientific findings too.
The variations are:
The source for light is in the middle of the rocket, each an mirror at the tip and the bottom. Each a light ray to the tip and to the bottom at the same time.
It is to look for that way of the light, on which it would return first to the source.
It should be explained to the program (or being discussed by the program) whether there is a constant time (or by what it varies) or whether there are more times (for which and why).
I hope that everyone who feels strong enough to program would not want to get bended (D: verzerrte) pictures from things which are reflecting light from another source than the observator — who travels fast — would emit. Just like `on the way to work by Einstein´ at `tempolimit-lichtgeschwindigkeit.de´ => `Fast lichtschnell durch die Stadt / Sprint / Rundfahrt´. Or he want´s to discuss that topic.
Only the simplest way, yes. The direction of light to the tip of the rocketship also is the direction of acceleration to the rocketship — also any direction of movement bevor the (simulated) accelaration.
Answer must be edited because the question was so.
I would give (well known) aspects to a program.
For example the interesting points of time of my variation. And only that, because it would take too much time for me to program anything in a so fare by me not known language of programming.
But, what should the simulation show if it varies all the fix thought assumptions of physical laws?
I think that anybody who is able to discuss the laws of physics will not learn by such an animation. So all work on it should be done after discussion.
Sorry I am out for programming yet; not for discussion.
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