Time Dilation due to Gravity: Formula Explained

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the formula for time dilation due to gravity, particularly in the context of an object that is not in orbit or moving but is near a black hole. Participants explore the theoretical implications of gravitational time dilation and the conditions under which the formula applies.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant requests the formula for time dilation for an object near a black hole that is not in motion or orbit.
  • Another participant explains that time dilation can be described by the ratio T1/T2, where T1 is measured by an observer in a strong gravitational field and T2 by an observer far away in an inertial frame.
  • The formula provided is $$\sqrt{1-\frac{r_s}{r}}$$, where r is the Schwarzschild radial coordinate and r_s is the Schwarzschild radius of the black hole.
  • It is noted that as the observer approaches the event horizon, the time dilation ratio approaches 0.
  • A further clarification states that for the formula to be valid, both observers must be static, and the observer far away must be stationary rather than inertial, especially if not at infinity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple viewpoints regarding the conditions under which the time dilation formula is applicable, indicating that there is no consensus on the interpretation of the formula's limitations and assumptions.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the importance of observer conditions, such as being static versus inertial, and the implications of these conditions on the validity of the time dilation formula.

Dynamotime
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If possible can someone tell me what is the formula of time dilation for an object

Which theoretically is Not in orbit, Not moving but close in off to an black hole to be affect by the gravity of it.

It will be greatly appreciated.
 
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Time dilation in the context of gravity is usually used to refer to the ratio T1/T2 where
* T1 is the time between two spacetime events, E1 and E2, as measured by an observer O1 in a strong gravitational field; and
* T2 is the time between E1 and E2, as measured by an observer O2 that is far away and in an inertial reference frame.

A formula for this ratio, assuming the gravitational source is a spherically symmetric, non-rotating mass is

$$\sqrt{1-\frac{r_s}{r}}$$

where ##r## is the Swarzschild radial coordinate of O1 (which is analogous to the distance from the centre of the gravitational source) and ##r_s## is the Swarzschild radius of the source, which is the size to which the source would have to collapse to become a black hole. You can see from this formula that, as observer O1 approaches the event horizon of a black hole from the outside, the ratio heads towards 0.
 
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andrewkirk said:
Time dilation in the context of gravity is usually used to refer to the ratio T1/T2 where
* T1 is the time between two spacetime events, E1 and E2, as measured by an observer O1 in a strong gravitational field; and
* T2 is the time between E1 and E2, as measured by an observer O2 that is far away and in an inertial reference frame.

A formula for this ratio, assuming the gravitational source is a spherically symmetric, non-rotating mass is

$$\sqrt{1-\frac{r_s}{r}}$$

where ##r## is the Swarzschild radial coordinate of O1 (which is analogous to the distance from the centre of the gravitational source) and ##r_s## is the Swarzschild radius of the source, which is the size to which the source would have to collapse to become a black hole. You can see from this formula that, as observer O1 approaches the event horizon of a black hole from the outside, the ratio heads towards 0.
Actually, for this formula to be valid, both observers must be static - hovering via rockets or resting on a surface. Further, for that form to be valid, O2 must be hovering at 'infinity', stationary with respect to the spherically symmetric source. It is true that at infinity, stationary = inertial, but the characteristic that holds for the generalization where O2 is not at infinity is stationary rather than inertial. Stationary has proper acceleration and is not inertial except at infinity.
 
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Thank you so much for info
 

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