Apparent contradiction in time dilation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the "twins paradox" in the context of time dilation, exploring the apparent contradictions presented in a video. Participants examine the implications of acceleration, relative motion, and the interpretation of time as experienced by different observers, with references to real-world applications like GPS. The conversation includes both technical explanations and critiques of the video's claims.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue that the twins paradox is a well-established result of relativity and not a contradiction, while others express skepticism about the video's claims.
  • One participant emphasizes that acceleration is accounted for in relativity, noting that the experience of the accelerating twin differs fundamentally from that of the inertial twin.
  • There is a discussion about the relativity of simultaneity, with some suggesting that it allows both observers to conclude that the other's clock runs slower.
  • Concerns are raised about the credibility of the video, with multiple participants labeling it as "crackpottery" and advising against watching it.
  • Some participants mention the Doppler effect as a factor in understanding the time dilation experienced by the twins.
  • One participant points out that the apparent contradiction arises from failing to include the relativity of simultaneity in the analysis.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the interpretation of the twins paradox and the validity of the video's claims. While some assert that the paradox is resolved within the framework of relativity, others remain unconvinced and highlight the video's misleading nature.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the discussion involves complex concepts such as proper acceleration, relative motion, and the relativity of simultaneity, which may not be fully addressed in the video. There are references to additional resources for further clarification.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying relativity, particularly the twins paradox, as well as individuals evaluating claims made in popular science media.

Julius Ceasar
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TL;DR
This video here 8.50 to 9.50 minutes , shows an apparent contradiction in time dilation, in the "twins paradox" the clock that is accelerated is relative, i.e. from earth the space ship moves but from the space ship the earth moves, i know time dilation is a real thing used in real applications like gps hence I say an apparent contradiction but the point is that a clock cannot be both faster and slower.
This video here <link deleted> 8.50 to 9.50 minutes , shows an apparent contradiction in time dilation, in the "twins paradox" the clock that is accelerated is relative, i.e. from Earth the spaceship moves but from the spaceship the Earth moves. I know time dilation is a real thing used in real applications like gps hence I say an apparent contradiction but they seem to make a fair point that a clock cannot be both faster and slower.

Note: Link to aether theory crackpottery deleted by Mentor
 
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The "twin paradox" is a standard, well-known result of relativity -- not a contradiction to it. That video is nonsense if it claims otherwise.

There are many, many threads discussing the twin paradox on this site. Or just pick up any relativity text. Dive in!
 
The video says acceleration is not accounted for in relativity. This is nonsense. This is another video of someone "proving" relativity is wrong by mis-stating the theory entirely. Accelerations matter even in SR. The ship (earth or rocket in this case) that accelerates in one direction and then turns around has a fundamentally different experience than the one that stays in the same frame of reference. It is the turning around that marks the asymmetry. This event occurs instantly for the accelerating body (the ship is present at the event of the turn around) but takes a while for this event to travel to the Earth (earth won't see the turn around event until the light relaying the information arrives there) By this time, the ship will almost be back to Earth (for a relativistic trip near speed c) So the Earth will see the return trip taking very little time. Since time will appear to move faster than normal for the objects approaching one another (search term: doppler effect time dilation) the Earth only sees time moving fast on the ship for a short time, but the ship will watch the Earth approach for the same amount of time as the outbound leg of the voyage. So time will run faster on Earth from the rocket frame of reference for a longer time. Hence more time will elapse on Earth than the rocket. Note that neither one is "right". It is perfectly acceptable for different times to elapse for different observers. It's the so-called spacetime interval that is preserved. They're are better explanations than this but it gives an idea of whence the apparent "paradox" comes from. In fact, it is not a paradox. If it didn't occur, that would mark an actual paradox.
 
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I'm not going to waste 19 minutes of my life watching a YouTube video titled "AETHER FIELD IS THERE - THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!" It is almost certainly crackpottery.
 
Julius Ceasar said:
Summary:: This video here 8.50 to 9.50 minutes , shows an apparent contradiction in time dilation, in the "twins paradox" the clock that is accelerated is relative, i.e. from Earth the spaceship moves but from the spaceship the Earth moves, i know time dilation is a real thing used in real applications like gps hence I say an apparent contradiction but the point is that a clock cannot be both faster and slower.

This video here 8.50 to 9.50 minutes , shows an apparent contradiction in time dilation, in the "twins paradox" the clock that is accelerated is relative, i.e. from Earth the spaceship moves but from the spaceship the Earth moves. I know time dilation is a real thing used in real applications like gps hence I say an apparent contradiction but they seem to make a fair point that a clock cannot be both faster and slower.
Please read my forum signature.
 
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Vanadium 50 said:
I'm not going to waste 19 minutes of my life watching a YouTube video titled "AETHER FIELD IS THERE - THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!" It is almost certainly crackpottery.
Why is the word "almost" in this sentence ?
 
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Yeah, I skipped to the time stamp and didn't get very far. As a word of advice, avoid any video that says "ether, Aether, or free energy"
 
Julius Ceasar said:
the clock that is accelerated is relative
Velocity is relative, but (proper) acceleration is not. All inertial frames agree which twin accelerated.
 
omega_minus said:
Yeah, I skipped to the time stamp and didn't get very far. As a word of advice, avoid any video that says "ether, Aether, or free energy"
Unless it has the word "disproving" just before it.
 
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  • #10
Vanadium 50 said:
I'm not going to waste 19 minutes of my life watching a YouTube video titled "AETHER FIELD IS THERE - THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!" It is almost certainly crackpottery.
Indeed. (I could only take about 20 seconds of it.) Accordingly, I will delete the link.
 
  • #11
omega_minus said:
This is another video of someone "proving" relativity is wrong by mis-stating the theory entirely.
omega_minus said:
It is perfectly acceptable for different times to elapse for different observers. It's the so-called spacetime interval that is preserved.

This is a cautionary tale to anyone looking at these kinds of videos, i thank you all.
 
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  • #12
If you want to see a simple but concise explanation of the twin paradox go to YouTube and search for "Hewitt Twin Trip".

The entire analysis involves the Doppler effect, and although it's not stated, the rocket speed is ##0.6 \ c##.
 
  • #13
Julius Ceasar said:
a clock cannot be both faster and slower.
If I am stationary and the traveling clock is moving to my left, then my judgment of his clock is by comparing his time to my times to MY left. On the other hand, he is judging my clock by comparing its progress with his times to HIS left (assuming we are facing each other). So we are both making judgments based on different sets of times. That is how each observer thinks that the other person's clock runs slower.
 
  • #14
Mister T said:
If you want to see a simple but concise explanation of the twin paradox go to YouTube and search for "Hewitt Twin Trip".
Good sing along time song for hipsters here with kooky 1974 animation, :oldbiggrin: educational though about light flashing 5 times on out journey and 20 times on in journey. An observer sees the Doppler effect at shorter or longer intervals depending on direction of travel. Nice and easy.
 
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  • #16
So what's going on here is that relativity of simultaneity allows the two observers to disagree about what clock A reads at the same time that clock B reads 12:30 PM, and that allows them both to correctly conclude that the other clock is the slower one.

I like this, it explains it well.
 
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