Question

In the Andromeda paradox if I walk past you we have different ideas of what's happening now on Andromeda, does this lead to two versions of Andromeda? Do the Andromedeans know what they are doing in their frame, we just apply differing coordinates? No, it does not lead to two different versions of Andromeda. Think about it. There are billions of people of Earth all moving in different directions and speeds- there would need to be billions of different versions of Andromeda if your interpretation held. If ever you are confused by Special Relativity, you might want to to remember that its key principle is that all inertial motion is relative, and therefore all of the relativistic effects of SR apply symmetrically between different frames. That means that you are moving at all kinds of speeds relative to different frames. Do you, then, feel time dilated, length contracted, split into multiple versions etc as a consequence of your motion relative to other frames? Of course not, so why do you suppose those effects have a different impact on Andromeda? In the context of the Andromeda paradox and Special Relativity:

A) Does walking past someone result in two different versions of Andromeda?

B) Do Andromedeans have awareness of their actions in their frame despite differing coordinates?

C) Is there a need for billions of versions of Andromeda based on the differing motions of Earth's billions of people?

D) Why is it suggested that the effects of Special Relativity have a different impact on Andromeda compared to other frames?

Answer 1

Walking past someone does not create different versions of Andromeda; observers merely have different frames of reference. There is only one physical Andromeda, and relativistic effects are symmetric across all frames.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of the Andromeda paradox and Special Relativity, the answer to the student's questions are:

1. No, walking past someone does not result in two different versions of Andromeda. There is only one physical reality, despite the different perspectives or frames of reference.
2. Yes, the Andromedeans are aware of their actions in their own frame and it is only us who apply differing coordinates due to relative motion.
3. There is no need for billions of versions of Andromeda, because differences in perceived simultaneity due to relative motion do not equate to multiple realities.
4. The effects of Special Relativity do not have a different impact on Andromeda, because like all inertial frames, its relativistic effects are governed by the same set of physical laws.

The premise of paradoxical outcomes frequently stems from misunderstanding the limits of applying Special Relativity, which deals with non-accelerating reference frames. General Relativity must be applied when considering acceleration, as in the case of the twin paradox. Experiments such as those by Hafele and Keating have confirmed time dilation effects at low relative velocities, reinforcing the role of both Special and General Relativity in understanding how motion affects time and space.