Brain Teasers
Space Vacation
In the year 2100, a family went out into space for a vacation exactly one light-minute away from home. They used an advanced telescope to look at their clock. The child, Sam, was so exact at time. If it's 9:59, he stays up one minute until ten. One night, Sam looked through the telescope and saw the clock showed 9:59. But his dad said it was ten and he had to go to sleep. How is that possible?
The clock back at home was their ONLY time source.
The clock back at home was their ONLY time source.
Hint
Think about the properties of light.Answer
The clock was one light-minute away, so it took the light one minute to reach the telescope. The display was how it looked one minute ago. You have to add one minute, and therefore it was Sam's bedtime.Hide Hint Show Hint Hide Answer Show Answer
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