Another time dilation question

In summary, when two clocks in a spaceship are synchronized at opposite ends and the ship is accelerated to a velocity v, the rest frame view shows that the clocks are now out-of-sync by vx'/c^2. However, this may not be the case under careful acceleration schemes, as extended objects do not naturally undergo Born rigid acceleration.
  • #1
PatPwnt
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Say we synchronize two clocks in a spaceship each at the opposite ends of the ship a length of x'. Now we accelerate the ship to a velocity v with respect the the initial rest frame. So now according to the rest frame. The clocks are out-of-sync by vx'/c^2. What exactly happened to the clocks when they were accelerating to make one of them ahead of the other in the rest frame? Or is this all wrong?
 
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  • #2
Good but ambiguous question.

An extended object, like a space ship, cannot remain Born rigid during acceleration. To avoid confusion I would advice to rephrase the question into:

Two test masses at rest with respect to each other with a radar distance of r accelerate at the same time (using Einstein's synchronization convention) with a proper acceleration a. After this acceleration is their radar distance still r and are their clocks in sync?
 
  • #3
This old thread addresses exactly that question and has some equations and diagrams that should be helpful to you.

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=216113

As a general rule the clocks will not still be synchronised after the acceleration except under some very careful set up acceleration schemes. Born rigid acceleration does not result in the clocks remaining synchronised and as Jennefir has aluded to, extended objects would not, as a rule, naturally undergo Born rigid acceleration unless every atom of the extended object had its own carefully synchronised rocket moter.
 

1. What is time dilation?

Time dilation is a phenomenon in which time appears to pass at different rates for different observers, depending on their relative speeds and locations in spacetime. This effect was first predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity.

2. How does time dilation occur?

Time dilation occurs because of the relationship between time and space in the theory of relativity. According to this theory, time and space are not absolute, but are relative to the observer's frame of reference. As an observer's speed increases, time appears to slow down for them relative to a stationary observer.

3. Can time dilation be observed?

Yes, time dilation has been observed and confirmed through experiments using atomic clocks. For example, the famous Hafele-Keating experiment in 1971 measured the effect of time dilation on atomic clocks on airplanes traveling at different speeds.

4. Is time dilation the same as time travel?

No, time dilation is not the same as time travel. Time dilation is a change in the rate at which time appears to pass, while time travel refers to the ability to move backwards or forwards in time. Time dilation does not allow for traveling to different points in time.

5. What are the practical implications of time dilation?

Time dilation has important implications in various fields such as space travel, satellite navigation, and particle physics. It is also a key factor to consider in the accuracy of GPS technology. Additionally, it has sparked philosophical debates about the nature of time and the relationship between time and space.

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