- #1
Grimble
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I know that this is a very basic question but what is the correct formula for time dilation?
In Wikipedia etc. I read [itex] {t^'} = \gamma {t} [/itex] or at least [itex] \Delta{t^'} = \gamma {\Delta{t}} [/itex]; yet in this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_p...t_of_differences_in_twins.27_spacetime_paths" 'phase 2' and 'phase 5' imply that the formula is [tex] {t^'} = \frac {t}{\gamma} [/tex].
Also, if a moving clock is seen to 'go slow' by a stationary observer, then one would expect that less time would be seen to pass in the transformed time, and [tex] {t^'} = \frac {t}{\gamma} [/tex]seems to me to fit that scenario.
I have been looking at this for some time on the internet but, taking heed of the warnings I have been given about believing all I read on there, I have followed the arguments and read the 'derivations' and suchlike, but have a problem:
Whichever way I approach it the formula appears to be the latter viz. [tex] {t^'} = \frac {t}{\gamma} [/tex] in the same way that [tex] {x^'} = \frac {x}{\gamma} [/tex] the formula for length contraction.
where:
t is the time on the stationary observer's local clock and
t' is the traveling clock's time, transformed by the Lorentz transformation formulae.
Or are there different formulae applied in different circumstances.
We talk of time dilation - expansion(?) yet also about the moving cock slowing (less time passing)?
In Wikipedia etc. I read [itex] {t^'} = \gamma {t} [/itex] or at least [itex] \Delta{t^'} = \gamma {\Delta{t}} [/itex]; yet in this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_p...t_of_differences_in_twins.27_spacetime_paths" 'phase 2' and 'phase 5' imply that the formula is [tex] {t^'} = \frac {t}{\gamma} [/tex].
Also, if a moving clock is seen to 'go slow' by a stationary observer, then one would expect that less time would be seen to pass in the transformed time, and [tex] {t^'} = \frac {t}{\gamma} [/tex]seems to me to fit that scenario.
I have been looking at this for some time on the internet but, taking heed of the warnings I have been given about believing all I read on there, I have followed the arguments and read the 'derivations' and suchlike, but have a problem:
Whichever way I approach it the formula appears to be the latter viz. [tex] {t^'} = \frac {t}{\gamma} [/tex] in the same way that [tex] {x^'} = \frac {x}{\gamma} [/tex] the formula for length contraction.
where:
t is the time on the stationary observer's local clock and
t' is the traveling clock's time, transformed by the Lorentz transformation formulae.
Or are there different formulae applied in different circumstances.
We talk of time dilation - expansion(?) yet also about the moving cock slowing (less time passing)?
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