Inner Workings of Relativity Clocks - Learn More Here!

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the types of clocks used in experiments and discussions related to the relativity of time, exploring their inner workings and the physical constants involved in their operation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests links to descriptions of clocks relevant to the relativity of time.
  • Another participant suggests that any physical clocks could be relevant based on current knowledge.
  • A different participant humorously proposes that most of these clocks are sand clocks.
  • A participant elaborates on the idea of physical constants involved in clock mechanisms, mentioning resonant L-C circuits and constants like dielectric permittivity, magnetic permeability, Planck's constant, and the charge of an electron.
  • This participant questions whether a clock could be designed that relies solely on the magnetic permeability of the vacuum for its frequency.
  • They later assert that it is impossible to create such a clock, indicating a need to consider all combinations of physical constants that yield a dimension of time.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion contains multiple viewpoints regarding the types of clocks and the physical constants involved, with no consensus reached on the specifics of clock design or the constants required.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the feasibility of designing clocks based solely on specific physical constants, and there is a lack of clarity on which constants are essential for time measurement.

ValenceE
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Hello to all,

Could someone give me a link that would point me towards a description of the inner workings of the famous clocks that are part of all discussions and experiments dealing with the relativity of time. What kind of clocks are those ?


Thank you,

VE
 
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Any kind of physical clocks whatsoever, according to our current knowledge.
 
I thought most of them were sand clocks.
 
ValenceE said:
Hello to all,

Could someone give me a link that would point me towards a description of the inner workings of the famous clocks that are part of all discussions and experiments dealing with the relativity of time. What kind of clocks are those ?


Thank you,

VE

Hi, this is a very interesting question. One could go a little bit deeper into this and ask what physical constants are necessarily involved. If one has for instance a simple resonant L-C circuit, then such a clock would involve the dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability of the vacuum. Other clocks could involve Plancks constant, the charge of an electron, ... (for instance in the Rydberg frequency).
It would be interesting to know what constants are minimally required.
Could someone for instance make a clock in which the frequency is only based on the magnetic permeability of the vacuum ?
 
notknowing said:
Hi, this is a very interesting question. One could go a little bit deeper into this and ask what physical constants are necessarily involved. If one has for instance a simple resonant L-C circuit, then such a clock would involve the dielectric permittivity and magnetic permeability of the vacuum. Other clocks could involve Plancks constant, the charge of an electron, ... (for instance in the Rydberg frequency).
It would be interesting to know what constants are minimally required.
Could someone for instance make a clock in which the frequency is only based on the magnetic permeability of the vacuum ?

I just realized that the answer to my last question is definitely NO. In fact one just has to look for all combinations of "physical constants" which result in a dimension of time.
 

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