Timelike geodesics might not be maxima of the proper time

In summary, the conversation discusses a common statement in modern SR/Gr theory that "timelike geodesics are maxima of the proper time". However, this statement is questioned due to conflicting evidence from experiments such as the H & T experiment and GPS. The conversation delves into the concept of geodesics and proper time, with some participants suggesting that the statement should be altered to consider an intersecting worldline with the same local comoving inertial frame. The discussion also touches on gravitational time dilation and the interpretation of extremal proper time in relation to the "twin paradox".
  • #1
Sammywu
273
0
A commonly accepted modern SR/Gr statement is "timelike geodesics are maxima of the proper time".

I really shall not dispute with these experts, who are all professors.
But this statement is clearly questionable. It bothered me for a long time.

The H & T experiment and GPS all show the statement is questionable. As I mentioned in another thread, in a gravitational field, an orbiter's world line is at geodesic and a standing person's worldline is not a geodesic, but the clock of the orbiter is slower than the standing person. This contradicts that statement.

My guess is that the statement shall be altered as "Timelike geeodesics are the maxima of the proper time compared with an interseting worldline that share the same local comoving inertial framet at the initial intersecting event point."
 
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  • #2
1) You can't compare the times elapsed on two clocks except at points where their worldlines cross.

2) You've got gravitational time dilation backwards. The orbiter's clock would tick faster than the Earthlings.

3) The definition of a geodesic is done through differential geometry. Rather than comparing the total proper times of two very long worldines, you compare the differential proper time along small intervals of two worldlines. In all cases, the geodesic is the curve with maximal proper time.

- Warren
 
  • #3
Warren,

Thank you for your reply.

In the document I saw, Eastward airplane has -184 ns Kinematic effect and 275 ns for Westward airplane. My take is that Eastward airplane runs slower than the westward airplane, since it used less time in airtraffic. Is that so? Also, the gravitational effect is 144 positive. As we know, the higher you are, the faster you clock is. Is that so? If that's the case, the positive figure here means faster clock and the negative figures mean slower clock.

If Eastward is running slower, the airplane's speed is in the direction of catching up with an orbiter if there is any. Eastward is the same direction as Earth's spin. Westward is offseting the Earth's spin then. It took almost two days to get back, so its speed is just about half of the Earth's spin. The Westward airplane is still considered eastward spin in half of Earth's spin speed. So the westward airplane is intended toward to a standing clock.

The orbiter seems to be slower than a standing clock at the same altitude to me.

Please correct me where I am wrong.
 
  • #4
Hi, Warren,

I know you are a resourceful person. Your postings benefited me a lot.

My previous response was taken from Hafele-Keating Experiment. I believe you knew already, but just in case you did not know.

I was concerned whether I interpreted that experiment correctly. That's why my first response is how the interpretation of that experiment shall be and did not explain diretly to your questions.

Any way, let me my case clearer:

1. First I can build a very high tower and I can place a clock in it. So the clock is more likely standing than orbiting.

Or, you think this is not good enough, I can send a spaceship into a orbit and adjust it slowly until it's at rest to the Earth frame. Well it will fall without the escaping speed so I have to keep pumping out fuel toward the Earth to keep it float in some height without any spinning speed.

2. Second, I can send an orbiter orbiting at that height. The orbiter will repeatedly pass by the stading spaceship for every circle it makes. I can synchronize and compare their clocks as many times as I want. Their world lines will definitely intersect many times.

The question is, which clock will tick slower?

From my interpretation of H & K experiment, the orbiter will tick slower. You know the orbiter's worldline is a geodesic and the standing spaceship isn't. That's why I see that contradicts this common accepted statement.

Even locally, You can image many standing spaceship or tower clocks at that height thru the orbit that orbiter run through. I can't see how we can say locally the geodesic is the maxima of the proper time.

That's why I think the statement shall be adjusted, the initial clock ticking rates are already different when the two world lines intersected and that invalidated this statement.

I have no interest in battling anyones here. I am just interested in what are the facts. If I am wrong, please correct me. I will appreciate your help.
 
  • #5
Originally posted by Sammywu
A commonly accepted modern SR/Gr statement is "timelike geodesics are maxima of the proper time".

The correct statement is that timelike geodescics are extremals of proper time. See Exploring Black Holes by Taylor and Wheeler
http://www.eftaylor.com/pub/chapter1.pdf
Purists insist that we say not maximum reading but rather extremal
reading: either maximum or minimum.
...
Principle of Extremal Aging: The path a free object takes between two events in spacetime is the path for which the time lapse between these events, recorded on the object’s wristwatch, is an extremum.

Here is a relavent example from Rindler's text
Suppose that at the instant a particle in circular orbit around a spherical mass passes through a point P, another freely moving particle passes through P in a radially outward direction, at precisely the velocity neccesary to ensure that it falls back to P when also the orbiting particle passes through P after a complete orbit. Without detailed calculations, show that it is certainly possible for the two particles to take different proper times between their encounters. We have here a version of the 'twin paradox' where neither twin experiences proper acceleration.
 
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  • #6
Arcon,

Thanks again. I can't open that pdf, somehow I got a mesaage "unknown format".

Who is Rindler? Apparently, he knew my confussion here. I was going to try to show that any objects freeing fall thru the same event point with different velocities will have different clock ticking rate and so as different proper time. So, how to interpret this extremal is really an issue.

He apparently knew my question. He must have already provided an answer.
 
  • #7
Purists insist that we say not maximum reading but rather extremal
reading: either maximum or minimum.


I have always wondered, since the deeper requirement is that the time derivative vanish, whether an inflexion point case exists.
 
  • #8
Originally posted by Sammywu
Arcon,

Thanks again. I can't open that pdf, somehow I got a mesaage "unknown format".

Who is Rindler? Apparently, he knew my confussion here. I was going to try to show that any objects freeing fall thru the same event point with different velocities will have different clock ticking rate and so as different proper time. So, how to interpret this extremal is really an issue.

He apparently knew my question. He must have already provided an answer.

I've changed my mind on the derivation. Will get back if/when I'm satisfied with one.
 
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1. What are timelike geodesics?

Timelike geodesics are the paths that particles follow in spacetime according to the theory of general relativity. They represent the most natural motion of a particle in the absence of any external forces.

2. How are timelike geodesics related to the proper time?

The proper time is the time measured by an observer moving along a timelike geodesic. It is the time that would be measured by a clock attached to the observer's worldline. Therefore, timelike geodesics are considered to be "maxima" of the proper time, meaning they represent the longest possible time interval between two events for an observer moving along that path.

3. Why might timelike geodesics not be maxima of the proper time?

In certain cases, the path of a particle may deviate from a timelike geodesic due to the presence of external forces or the curvature of spacetime. This deviation can result in the particle experiencing a shorter proper time interval between two events, meaning that the timelike geodesic is not a maximum of the proper time.

4. Can timelike geodesics still be considered "natural" paths if they are not maxima of the proper time?

Yes, timelike geodesics are still considered to be the most natural paths in the context of general relativity, even if they are not maxima of the proper time. This is because they still represent the path that a particle would follow in the absence of any external forces.

5. Are there any practical applications of understanding timelike geodesics?

Understanding timelike geodesics is crucial in many areas of physics, such as cosmology and astrophysics. It allows us to accurately model the motion of particles in curved spacetime, which is essential for understanding the behavior of objects in the universe, such as planets, stars, and galaxies. Additionally, it has practical applications in fields such as navigation and satellite technology.

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