Reexamining Time Dilation: A Perspective from Both Frames of Reference

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the concept of time dilation as illustrated by the atomic clock experiment involving two observers: one stationary on Earth and the other traveling in an airplane at high speed. The stationary observer's clock shows 60 minutes, while the traveling observer's clock shows 59.99999 minutes upon comparison. The key confusion arises from the differing frames of reference, where the airplane passenger perceives the Earth as moving away, yet the inertial frame of the stationary observer remains consistent. The conversation highlights the importance of acceleration and inertial frames in understanding time dilation.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of special relativity principles
  • Familiarity with inertial and non-inertial reference frames
  • Basic knowledge of atomic clocks and their function
  • Concept of time dilation in physics
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  • Research the implications of Einstein's theory of relativity on time dilation
  • Study the effects of acceleration on time perception in non-inertial frames
  • Explore the atomic clock experiment in detail, including its methodology and results
  • Investigate scenarios involving time dilation between distant celestial bodies
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Students of physics, educators explaining relativity, and anyone interested in the nuances of time dilation and reference frames in the context of special relativity.

armaan
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Hey guys,

I have no background in physics but have been interested in time dilation for a while and have understood the concept without getting technical...

My question is this... this is the atomic clock experiment...


Suppose there are only 2 living beings in the universe ... one stands still on Earth with an atomic clock in his hand... the other goes in an aeroplane at a high uniform speed also with an atomic clock in his hand..

After 60 minutes(on the person standing on Earth's clock) the plane returns and they compare their clocks..

only 59.99999 or wtvr minutes have passed on the person in the planes clock right?

Now here comes my question... Why do we look at this from the person standing on Earth's frame of reference... according to the person on the plane, the person standing on Earth was moving away from HIM at a high uniform speed... so why is the person standing on Earth's clock not slower when they compare... this is my basic confusion...

thanks
 
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The airplane must turn around in order to return to its starting point so the two persons can compare their clocks. The person on the airplane "feels" the turnaround. The person on the ground does not.

To put it another way, the person on the ground remains at rest in a single inertial reference frame. The person on the airplane does not. His reference frame is non-inertial during the turnaround.
 
Hey jtbell,

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate your perspective on the solution and it certainly is a very good argument but i don't somehow feel satisfied.

Plus even if the person never returns would his time not be dilated even though neither of them could never compare. What if they send each other radio messages telling the times on their clocks... do you see what I am getting at.. There doesn't have to be a turnaround..

You will then tell me that he feels the forces of acceleration while the person on the grounnd does not...

Well my argument is that in this situation, only a human being would perceive this as motion.. This is because we have built planes and felt acceleration before... Some being that has never felt accelration before would not term himself as moving, rather would say that the Earth and the person on Earth are accelrating away. It seems to me to be irrelevant who created the machine, or that there is a machine at all.

What if the 2 people were placed 2 planets moving away from each other. What of time dilation then?
 

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