Mechanical Time Dilation: Explained

[akashdgr8]

when the expression for time dilation was derived the clock assumed used the light signal to progress but the normal clocks which work using chemical energy or the stored potential energy in the spring must not be influenced with the relative velocity
can anyone explain me the mechanical reason for time dilation in ordinary clocks

 

[ahrkron]

First of all, welcome to the Forums!

There's no clock assumed in the derivation of the Lorentz Transformation (LT). Basically, time dilation is one component of a 4d transform that is the natural consequence of the constancy of the maximum speed (which also happens to be that of light).

Then, once people understood how time is affected by the LT, explanations were devise to try to make it clear, light-clocks were used only then.

 

[Gamish]

It just depends on your notion of time, and what it effects. You have to consider, KE in not relative. to clear this up, it is though that ALL things tend to slow down at high velocity, because of the dilation in time. The truth is that we don't exactly know what time is, we just observe it like every thing else :)