How does gravity affect time on different planets?

In summary, gravitational time dilation is determined by the gravitational potential, which can vary greatly even with similar field strengths. To accurately compare time passage on a planet with 3,000 m/s^2 gravity to Earth, one would need to know the planet's mass and radius.
  • #1
EasterEggs123
11
1
If a planet has gravity that is 3,000 m/s^2 instead of 9.8 m/s^2, would time passage be significantly different, or what would one second on Earth be compared to one second on that planet?
 
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  • #2
EasterEggs123 said:
If a planet has gravity that is 3,000 m/s^2 instead of 9.8 m/s^2, would time passage be significantly different, or what would one second on Earth be compared to one second on that planet?

Gravitational time dilation depends on the gravitational potential.
 
  • #3
DrStupid said:
Gravitational time dilation depends on the gravitational potential.
But you can find the potential by knowing that it's 3000 m/s^2?
 
  • #4
EasterEggs123 said:
But you can find the potential by knowing that it's 3000 m/s^2?

No.
 
  • #5
You'd need to know the mass and radius of the planet. For example, The Earth has 1 G of gravity, but so does a galaxy-mass black hole with Schwarzschild radius of 1 light year. The potentials for those two cases are hugely different even though the field strength is about the same.
 

1. What is gravitational time dilation?

Gravitational time dilation is a phenomenon in which time passes at different rates depending on the strength of gravity. This means that time moves slower in regions with stronger gravitational forces, such as near massive objects like planets or black holes.

2. How does gravitational time dilation occur?

Gravitational time dilation occurs due to the curvature of space-time caused by massive objects. This curvature affects the flow of time, causing it to slow down in regions with stronger gravitational forces.

3. What is the impact of gravitational time dilation on the measurement of time?

The impact of gravitational time dilation on the measurement of time is that clocks in regions with stronger gravitational forces will appear to run slower compared to clocks in regions with weaker gravitational forces. This has been observed and measured in experiments, such as with atomic clocks on Earth and in space.

4. Can gravitational time dilation be reversed?

No, gravitational time dilation cannot be reversed. The flow of time is always affected by the strength of gravity and will continue to pass at different rates in different regions. However, the amount of time dilation can be altered by changing the strength of the gravitational field.

5. How does Einstein's theory of relativity explain gravitational time dilation?

Einstein's theory of relativity states that space and time are interconnected and that their measurements are relative to the observer. In the case of gravitational time dilation, the observer is affected by the strength of the gravitational field, causing time to appear to pass slower or faster depending on their location. This theory has been proven through various experiments and is a fundamental concept in modern physics.

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