Context
According to relativity law, it is possible to travel into the future approaching the speed of light. For the 2nd Newton's Law of motion, in absence of friction (or opposite force), we can accelerate every object indefinitely if we apply a continuous constant force. Today the biggest obstacle to achieve an high speed is the friction on earth or the impossibility to apply an indefinitely force in the space. But the friction can be easily bypassed with a vacuum tube, today we are already able to accelerate particle almost at of light in accelerators like LHC. Accelerate a macroscopic object is much more difficult, because it require lots of energy, but I think it's technologically possible.
Vactrain is an emerging technology, developed to transport people using a maglev train in a vacuum tube. A first project that uses that technology (HyperLoop One) will be develop to connect Dubai to Abu Dhabi (~130 km) in only 12 minutes with maximum speed of 1200 km/h. Assuming 6 minutes of acceleration and 6 of declaration, we are able to achieve a speed of 1200 km/h in only 6 minutes.
Idea
- So I had an idea, if instead of 6 minutes, we accelerate the train with a constant force for 1 month with a constant acceleration, we are able to approach the speed of light?
- If no, assuming a tolerable acceleration of 1G (9.8 m/s²), how much time will be required to approach the 99.9% of light speed ?
With the question 1, I am asking to apply the relativity law to calculate if is feasible to approach the speed of light (I assume 99.9% as arbitrary value).
Remember that when we approach the speed of light, the acceleration is no more constant, because the force will increase the mass instead to increase the speed.
Question 2 , to answer only if you answer to question 1 that is impossible to approach the speed of light in only one month of acceleration with a constant force
With question 2 I am asking to calculate the time necessary to approach the speed of light with a tolerable acceleration.
I assume 99.9 % of light speed and 1 G as arbitrary values.
- Furthermore, because it's impossible to achieve that speed on a straight path, we need to create a circular vacuum tube.
The defect, of this solution is the Centrifugal force, so we need to create a very large circle, and the question is how much large should be the circle to maintain a tolerable force of 1G with the speed of light?
With question 3 I ask to calculate the centrifugal force function with a speed similar to light speed (I don't think that 100% or 99.9% affect the calculation)
And then I ask to optimize that function to achieve a maximum force of 1G, I'm expecting that you provide the diameter of circle in km as optimized value.
- Then if we build this system, with a speed of 99.9% of speed of light, how much time will be required to travel of 100 years into the future?
With question 4 I ask to apply the relativity law to calculate how long should be the trip to send a human into 100 years into the future.
The time is related to passenger, since for observer is equivalent to 100 years.
- Probably today if this project might be technologically possible, is not economically, also the only one that can take benefit is the passenger, anyone else should wait 100 years to have a feedback.
But according to this in the 2039 will be the first trillionaire, and if we think that today lots of people entrust their lives cryogenesis in the hope of a better life, probably someone can built this machine for personal interests.
Today cryogenics has lots of limits, especially ethical, we have no proof that a human frozen can be revived, and for that reason we can freeze only death people.
But a death people, probably not even be resurrected, so a true time travel can be the only option to see the far future.
5 is not a question, but I express my opinion about the idea.
- Do you think that a vactrain time machine can be ever be built? and do you think that can be a valid alternative to cryogenics for very rich people?
With 6 I ask your option about this project, in particular feasibility and use case.
Alternative to cryogenics is an example of use case that I proposed.