0
$\begingroup$

First of all, this is a thought experiment regarding faster-than-light communication.

Say you had an immense hollow planet that was made of some heavy material such as neutron-star dust.

Due to the mass of the planet, the speed of light on the surface is slowed down by several percent due to gravitational time dilation.

But the planet is hollow. Since the gravitational force inside the planet is zero, the speed of light in the interior will be faster than that on the surface.

If we were to run a fiber-optic cable from the surface through the interior, would we be able to communicate faster than the speed of light, as far as the denizens on the surface were concerned?

If yes, would this cause a paradox of any sort?

References:

Gravitational time dilation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_time_dilation

Shapiro delay: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shapiro_delay

StackExchange: Is spacetime flat inside a spherical shell?

StackExchange: Does gravity slow the speed that light travels?

UPDATE:

This question seems to be answered here: Time Dilation inside a hollow shell

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
2
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Two points. 1 frame of reference considerations and 2. Can we not do this already bearing in mind the speed of light in water versus vacuum, say, is 75 percent. What's happens there with a half filled with water fibre optic cable.? $\endgroup$
    – user146020
    Commented Feb 23, 2017 at 21:12
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Possible duplicate of Time Dilation inside a hollow shell $\endgroup$
    – Yashas
    Commented Feb 24, 2017 at 6:50

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1
$\begingroup$

Its not that the speed of light changed, it's the speed of time. This article may help. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/center-earth-younger-outer-surface

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ Would the question still be applicable, if the speed of time differed between the interior and surface of the hollow planet? The "fast time" section would be able to communicate faster than the "slow time" section by sending signals through the surface. $\endgroup$
    – A Q
    Commented Feb 23, 2017 at 21:36
  • $\begingroup$ No, they still communicate at light speed, measured everywhere locally. Time can change, speed of light can't $\endgroup$
    – Bob Bee
    Commented Feb 24, 2017 at 1:45

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.