Gravitational Effects on Age of Earth's Core

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of gravitational time dilation and its implications for the age of Earth's core compared to its surface. Participants explore the relationship between gravitational potential and acceleration, questioning how these factors influence the aging of clocks in different gravitational environments.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant cites a Wikipedia entry stating that Earth's core is effectively 2.5 years younger than its surface due to gravitational time dilation.
  • Another participant argues that gravitational time dilation depends on gravitational potential rather than acceleration, challenging the initial claim about the core's age.
  • There is a repeated assertion that gravitational acceleration is zero at the center of the Earth, leading to confusion about the implications for aging.
  • Some participants suggest that common misconceptions about gravitational effects are present in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between gravitational potential, acceleration, and time dilation, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved with competing interpretations.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference external sources and previous discussions to clarify points, but the limitations of these references and their applicability to the current discussion are not fully explored.

Freonpsandoz
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The Wikipedia page on gravitational time dilation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_time_dilation) states:

"Relative to Earth's age in billions of years, Earth's core is effectively 2.5 years younger than its surface."

A clock subjected to less acceleration (gravitational or otherwise) runs faster, doesn't it? Isn't gravitational acceleration zero at the center of the earth? Shouldn't that make the center of the Earth older?
 
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Freonpsandoz said:
A clock subjected to less acceleration (gravitational or otherwise) runs faster, doesn't it?
No. Gravitational time dilation depends on the gravitational potential, not on acceleration.
 
Freonpsandoz said:
A clock subjected to less acceleration (gravitational or otherwise) runs faster, doesn't it? Isn't gravitational acceleration zero at the center of the earth? Shouldn't that make the center of the Earth older?

Your confusion is a common one:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/flat-spacetime-in-a-gravity-well.943566/#post-5970060

EDIT: by the way, this points to something you should think about. Very often it's sufficient to get an answer to such questions by just doing a forum search. You may at some point ask a question that has not been asked here before but if it's a question about basic science, that is VERY unlikely.
 
phinds said:
Your confusion is a common one:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/flat-spacetime-in-a-gravity-well.943566/#post-5970060

EDIT: by the way, this points to something you should think about. Very often it's sufficient to get an answer to such questions by just doing a forum search. You may at some point ask a question that has not been asked here before but if it's a question about basic science, that is VERY unlikely.
Sorry. Won't bother you guys again.
 
Freonpsandoz said:
Sorry. Won't bother you guys again.
That's an odd way to say thank you...
 
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