Time Dilation: Relativity's Surprising Effect

[Holocene]

Time dilation?

Relativity states that it's possible for a clock to run slower the closer it is to a gravitational field.

Basically, a clock at the top of a water tower will run faster than an identical clock at the base.

But aren't the clocks just simple instruments, that will run at the exact same speed regardless of their location?

 

[pmb_phy]

Relativity states that it's possible for a clock to run slower the closer it is to a gravitational field.

Basically, a clock at the top of a water tower will run faster than an identical clock at the base.

But aren't the clocks just simple instruments, that will run at the exact same speed regardless of their location?

Perhaps my web page on gravitational redshift can help since these are the same phenomena, See -
http://www.geocities.com/physics_world/gr/grav_red_shift.htm

Any questions, as I'm sure they will be, ask away.

Pete

 

[russ_watters]

Relativity states that it's possible for a clock to run slower the closer it is to a gravitational field.

Basically, a clock at the top of a water tower will run faster than an identical clock at the base.

But aren't the clocks just simple instruments, that will run at the exact same speed regardless of their location?

Yes! A clock has no idea what altitude it is at and if you go look at the clock, you won't notice anything unusual about it's tick rate. Yet Relativity still is...