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Chapter 1: Problem 5

Imagine you hear the main character in a low-budget science-fiction movie say he will "return ten light years from now." What's wrong with his usage of the term?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The main character's usage of the term "ten light years from now" is incorrect because a light year is a unit of distance, not time. The character should refer to a time duration like years, months, or days for the intended meaning, not a measurement of distance like light years. A correct statement could be "I will return ten years from now" or "I will return once I've traveled ten light years."

Step by step solution

01

Determine the Phrase's Intended Meaning

To solve this problem, we must first understand the intended meaning of the statement "return ten light years from now." If it has been used correctly, we suppose the character means they will arrive or return to a location ten light years away, which is a measure of distance.
02

Identify the Usage of the Term "Light Year"

A light year is the distance that light travels in one year. It is a unit of distance, not time. So, using the term "light year" to describe the time when the character will return or arrive is incorrect.
03

Point Out the Incorrect Usage

The main character's usage of the term "ten light years from now" is incorrect because he is using it to describe a time when he will return or arrive somewhere, instead of using it to describe the distance to the destination. The statement should refer to a time duration like years, months, or days, not a measurement of distance like light years.
04

Suggest a Correct Alternative

A correct statement could be something like "I will return ten years from now," indicating the time duration when the main character plans to return. Alternatively, if the character wants to express his return after traveling a specific distance, he should say something like "I will return once I've traveled ten light years," which correctly uses the term "light year" as a measurement of distance.

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