Time Is Relative: What Does It Mean?

[Helicobacter]

Hi,

my old physics teacher once told me that time is relative. But what does "time is relative" actually mean? Does time depend on something?

Thanks in advance!

 

[my_wan]

Hi,
my old physics teacher once told me that time is relative. But what does "time is relative" actually mean? Does time depend on something?
Thanks in advance!

Yes it depends on your relative motion, your relative speed in relation to another clock (SR special relativity). Relative time can also depend on your depth in a garavitational field in ralation to another clock (GR - general relativity).

Given enough relative speed, speed of light being the limit, you can actually come back from a trip younger than your own kids. That doen't mean that you age slower, time itself was slower in comparison.