ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Hyperbolic motion (relativity)

Hyperbolic motion is when something moves really fast, like a superhero. But when we talk about hyperbolic motion in the context of relativity, it means that the speed of the object is so fast that it affects how we see time and space.

Let's pretend that you and I are on a spaceship traveling in hyperbolic motion. Because we are moving so fast, time and space will appear different to us compared to someone who is standing still on Earth.

First, let's talk about time. This is how we measure how long things take to happen. Because we are moving so fast, time will appear to be moving slower for us than it is for someone on Earth. So while only a few minutes may have passed for us on the spaceship, hours could have gone by for someone on Earth.

Next, let's talk about space. This is how we measure how far apart things are. Because we are in hyperbolic motion, space will appear to be shorter for us than it is for someone on Earth. This means that objects that appear far away to someone on Earth may appear much closer to us on the spaceship.

So, in summary, hyperbolic motion is really fast motion that affects time and space. When we move this fast, time appears to slow down and space appears to be shorter. It's like being a superhero with the power to slow down time and travel great distances in a short amount of time!