Gravitational Time Dilation and the Galaxy Rotation Curve

In summary, the possibility of significant time dilation due to the high concentration of mass at the centers of galaxies has been raised as a potential explanation for the rotational curve problem. However, the central black hole only accounts for a small portion of the galaxy's mass and the region of significant time dilation is limited. Additionally, there is much more mass in the center of a galaxy than just the central black hole, including other black holes and stellar mass. Gravitational lensing also suggests the existence of unseen dark mass in the universe.
  • #1
dewclaw
3
0
Is it possible that the very high concentration of mass at the centers of galaxies is causing a significant enough time dilation to explain a non-negligible part of the rotational curve problem? i.e. time is traveling more slowly in the super-massive, black hole rich cores of galaxies and faster in the relatively diffuse extremities.
 
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  • #2
No .
 
  • #3
No. The central black hole usually accounts for less than 2% of the galaxy mass, and the region where its gravity causes any significant time dilation is, liberally, one cubic parsec out of 10^12 of them in the galaxy. Most stars in the galaxy don't even know it exists.
 
  • #4
There is much more mass in the center of a galaxy than just the central black hole though. There are other black holes and a vast majority of the stellar mass. And its not just the very center that would need to be considered right? Its the huge discrepancy between the amount of matter near the core and the amount on the fringes.
 
  • #5
dewclaw said:
There is much more mass in the center of a galaxy than just the central black hole though. There are other black holes and a vast majority of the stellar mass.

No. The center of the galaxy does not contain "the vast majority of the stellar mass." The mass of a galaxy is very well distributed throughout the disk.
 
  • #6
OK. Thanks for commenting.
 
  • #7
Gravitational lensing beyond that attritubtable to visible mass also seems to support the existence of additional unseen dark mass over vast cosmological distances. It's embarassing, but little is known about 96% of the "stuff" in the universe...
 

1. What is gravitational time dilation?

Gravitational time dilation is a phenomenon in which time appears to pass slower in regions with stronger gravitational fields. This is due to the curvature of spacetime around massive objects, which causes time to flow at different rates for observers in different locations.

2. How does gravitational time dilation affect the rotation of galaxies?

The gravitational time dilation effect can cause the rotation of galaxies to appear different from what is predicted by traditional Newtonian physics. This is because the velocity of stars at the edges of galaxies is affected by the gravitational pull of the galaxy's center, which causes time to pass at a slower rate for those stars compared to the stars closer to the center.

3. What is the connection between the galaxy rotation curve and dark matter?

The galaxy rotation curve is a graph that shows the rotational velocity of stars in a galaxy as a function of their distance from the galaxy's center. This curve does not match the predicted velocities based on the visible matter in the galaxy, leading scientists to hypothesize the existence of dark matter, which could account for the missing mass and explain the observed rotation curve.

4. How is gravitational time dilation measured?

Gravitational time dilation can be measured using precise clocks and measuring the difference in the passage of time between two locations with different gravitational fields. This has been demonstrated through experiments such as the Hafele-Keating experiment and the Pound-Rebka experiment.

5. Can gravitational time dilation be observed in everyday life?

Yes, gravitational time dilation is a real phenomenon that can be observed in everyday life. For example, GPS satellites have to take into account the effects of time dilation due to their position in Earth's gravitational field in order to provide accurate navigation. Gravitational time dilation also plays a role in the aging process, with time appearing to pass at a slightly slower rate for individuals living at higher altitudes compared to those living at lower altitudes.

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