Does Time Really Slow Down Near Massive Bodies, or Is It Just Light?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ScienceNerd36
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Light Mass Time
AI Thread Summary
Time does indeed slow down near massive bodies, a phenomenon that must be accounted for in technologies like GPS, which require synchronization between satellite and ground-based clocks. This effect is a fundamental aspect of general relativity, confirming that time is relative rather than merely an illusion caused by light's behavior. The speed of light remains constant across all reference frames, reinforcing the idea that the passage of time is affected by gravitational fields. The discussions emphasize that time dilation is a real effect, not just a perceived one. Overall, the understanding of time's relativity is crucial in both theoretical physics and practical applications.
ScienceNerd36
Messages
79
Reaction score
0
If time slows down near a massive body like the Earth, is that actually the slowing down of time our is it just the slowing down of light?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
"Light moves at the exact same speed in all reference frames."

^ Central tenet of relativity

Our clocks run more slowly. Interestingly, this must be accounted for in GPS satellites to properly "synchronize" their clocks with our ground-based ones.
 
So time actually does slow down, and it doesn't just seem like it's slowing down.
 

Thread 'Need help understanding particle physics and quantum physics'

So I know that electrons are fundamental, there's no 'material' that makes them up, it's like talking about a colour itself rather than a car or a flower. Now protons and neutrons and quarks and whatever other stuff is there fundamentally, I want someone to kind of teach me these, I have a lot of questions that books might not give the answer in the way I understand. Thanks
View full post »

Similar threads

I Why does metal moving though a magnetic field slow down?
Replies
17
Views
4K
I Time dilation and the human body
Replies
11
Views
2K
Do gravitational waves propogate slower when blocked by mass
Replies
5
Views
1K
I Speed of information in a medium
Replies
38
Views
4K
I Another Time Dilation Question
Replies
23
Views
3K
B Let me ask a thing about the Speed of Light
Replies
6
Views
2K
B I wonder why massive objects slow down time
Replies
7
Views
1K
B Near the speed of light time slows down but not at everyday speeds?
Replies
8
Views
2K
I What Could Cause the Earth's Rotation to Dramatically Slow Down?
Replies
39
Views
7K
B Can Orbiting Bodies Slow Down Over Time?
Replies
11
Views
5K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top