Time Distortion

Belcher

Hi, sorry if the title was misleading, but there's something that has been bothering me for awhile. What is the name of the theory (Einstein's?) which states that as you approach light speed your conception of time is 'skewed.'

A theoretical example: You're in a vehicle that's going almost at light speed. When you stop, what is a 'year' for you is, much, much longer for somebody else.

Maybe I mucked it up, or misunderstood it in the first place, but I believe it was (Something)-shift.

Thanks for any help.

P.S., if anyone could point me in the direction of a good book/source concerning rudimentary physics, I'd be greatly appreciative! I'm not very knowledgeable on the subject, sadly.

Mentz114

Hi Belcher,
welcome. You have correctly stated the scenario popularly known as the twin-paradox which is much discussed in this forum.

A good place to start is Wiki

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_paradox and

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_relativity

M

Belcher

Thank you! I'll check those links out.