OK, so we know what happens when an object's velocity increases toward the speed of light. But...

What happens as we slow down? I.e. go slower than we are moving today. Is it possible to move to a location (off the Earth) and be stationary relative to the Sun? How about some location beyond our solar system? Will we be moving slower? In some stationary location in extragalactic space even.. how fast would we be moving then? And what happens to time?

Question

OK, so we know what happens when an object's velocity increases toward the speed of light. But...

What happens as we slow down? I.e. go slower than we are moving today. Is it possible to move to a location (off the Earth) and be stationary relative to the Sun?  How about some location beyond our solar system? Will we be moving slower? In some stationary location in extragalactic space even.. how fast would we be moving then? And what happens to time?

anonymous · Answer

There's no such thing as absolute speed, so you are always measuring speed relative to another object. It is perfectly possible to have a speed of zero relative to another object. In that scenario, the rate at which time changes (the speed of time, if you like), will be the same for both objects.

anonymous · Answer

Time is relative to your surroundings, so as you sit in your chair not moving, your velocity is 0 m/s relative to your room. You cannot move slower than no motion at all.  So we are experiencing time at the slowest we can already.

anonymous · Answer

True, velocity is relative to some "mile-post" or armchair or whatever. So, what would be the milepost in intergalactic space....since there is no "center of the universe". Are you saying that we can't move any slower than we are today? The recently published Gravity-B probe measured the Frame-Dragging precession, which would indicate that Time can "drag on" as on a hot July day in the deep South. http://www.universetoday.com/85401/gravity-probe-b-confirms-two-of-einsteins-space-time-theories/

anonymous · Answer

The mile post can be anything at all. There is no "preferred frame", or centre of the universe as you put it, so it doesn't matter what you choose to measure your velocity against or who you compare clocks with. It also means that we can reduce our velocity relative to any given object - but note that this also alters our velocity relative to other objects!

anonymous · Answer

I just want to slow down, You all go ahead, I'll catch up later <grin>

Thanks for the replies, they answered my question!

anonymous · Answer

well if I am going some speed but somehow someone if going slower than me in the same room, I will be moving ahead in time quicker than them or they will be "back in time" from me ??

anonymous · Answer

The faster you go, the slower time does. You trade one for the other. So if you're going faster in space and slower in time, the other astronaut in the room will be into the future before you.