When Time Breaks Down
Why Physics Stack Exchange recommends it
Physics Stack Exchange users link it as an accessible explanation of where relativistic time dilation comes from, and askers cite it when puzzling over the photon clock thought experiment.
Recommended by 1 people across 1 different months, 2016 to 2026.
What it is
A 9.5 minute PBS Space Time episode hosted by Matt O'Dowd that explains time dilation using Einstein's photon clock thought experiment. It follows a prior episode on how motion gives matter its mass and ties the two ideas together.
What people said
Strong rec ssokolow · 2026-02 · Physics Stack Exchange · on “Is real-time observation of a spacecraft 25,000 light-years away fundamentally impossible due to light travel time?””
@mohammedbenramdane PBS Space Time has a great video named When Time Breaks Down [this video] which explains where relativistic time dilation comes from. I highly recommend it.
Cites zoran404 · 2016-02 · Physics Stack Exchange · on “The photon clock thought experiment”
In reference to this video [this video] . If a photon clock moves away from us the photon will travel greater distance and therefore the clock will tick slower, so I would assume it will tick slower if it is moving towards us as well. So if it goes away from us then back towards us, then we would notice the clock is late. But in the video they say the person riding with that clock will see our clock as running slower than their. Does this mean they will see it as running faster when this other clock is moving back towards us? I'm just trying t understand this thought experiment...
Cites SurpriseDog · 2019-07 · Physics Stack Exchange · on “How does the Higgs field prevent the electron from going the speed of light?”
Both the Photon and the Electron are point-like particles. Most massive particles can be thought of " bound collections of massless particles [this video] ", but the electron assumed to be a "point particle with a point charge and no spatial extent." [LINK] They both contain energy. Energy and mass are equivalent, however, only the Electron has a mass from the Higgs field that prevents it from reaching the speed of light. If an electron and positron meet, the energy will be released in Photons that do travel the speed of light. So how exactly DOES the Higgs field prevent the electron from going the speed of light?