The Topic: Carl Sagan,

macleod

Hey I was wondering. Under General Relativity, gravity and acceleration can be considered the same thing. Also, a common generalization used in physics books is that if a space ship were to accelerate at 1g for a year it will reach what it calculates is lightspeed. In that same year, where has the "speed" gone for all the people who are in earth's 1g gravitational feild? We are obviously not "moving", but if we are to believe general relativity we have to take this into account somehow, right?

Responses:

Not the Ghost of Carl Sagan, since the existence of 'ghosts' cannot be proven scientifically.

There's so much wrong with this I don't even know where to begin.

Stephen Hawking

First, 'what it calculates as lightspeed,' what does that mean? In relation to what? I can only assume you mean 'a high percentage of lightspeed' which is certainly not the same thing.

Stephen Hawking

But your actual question deals with the difference between gravity and acceleration. Without going into detail, while it may not be possible to tell the difference if you are on an spacecraft with a 1g acceleration or on earth based on what you feel, there is a difference between 'gravity' and 'acceleration.' The 'speed' doesn't go anywhere. I'm not sure where you got the idea that General Relativity insists that.

Stephen Hawking

However, the main problem with your question is that you didn't ask me, the physics expert, but Carl Sagan, who is just an astronomer, and a dead one at that.

Not the Ghost of Carl Sagan, since the existence of 'ghosts' cannot be proven scientifically.

"Just an Astronomer?" See if I write anymore forwards for your books.

Stephen Hawking

Now that would be a trick.

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