Twin Paradox: Earth-Twin vs Space-Twin Aging

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    Paradox Twin paradox
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Twin Paradox, specifically examining the aging differences between a twin traveling at high speed in a rocket (the space-twin) and a twin remaining on Earth (the Earth-twin). The scope includes conceptual clarifications and theoretical implications of special relativity.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why the Earth-twin does not perceive the space-twin as having aged more, suggesting that the Earth could be viewed as moving away from the rocket.
  • Another participant notes that the situation has been extensively discussed in the forums, implying a wealth of prior discourse on the topic.
  • A different participant explains that the frames of reference are not equivalent due to the acceleration experienced by the traveling twin, while the Earth-twin remains in a single inertial frame.
  • One post provides a link to additional resources about the Twin Paradox, indicating that there are further explanations available outside the current thread.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the interpretation of the Twin Paradox, with no consensus reached on the implications of the frames of reference or the aging outcomes for each twin.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the complexities surrounding the definitions of inertial frames and the effects of acceleration, which are critical to understanding the paradox.

bino
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The Twin Paradox: If a twin on a rocket travels at high speed for a while, and then returns to the Earth, the Earth-twin would have aged much more than the space-twin. But isn't it just as valid to say that the Earth is moving away from the rocket? Then the situation would be switched. Why would the astronaut return to find the Earth-twin aged far more, and not the Earth-twin find the astronaut aged much more?
 
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This topic has been discussed ad nauseam.

Search the forums for "twin" to see the many threads on this topic: https://www.physicsforums.com/search.php?searchid=372102
 
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The simple answer is that dynamic frames are in general not equivalent - the stay at home twin remains in one inertial frame (no accelerations are involved). The traveler experiences acceleration when he starts, and depending upon the version of the problem, he will experience either acceleration or a change of frames upon turning around.
 

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