What is the outcome of the twin paradox in a new version?

In summary, two scenarios are presented involving twin astronauts and their spacecrafts. In the first scenario, one twin suddenly accelerates to 100 km per second and then both twins take off at the same speed and meet in the middle to compare their clocks. The twin who accelerated for a longer period of time shows less elapsed time, indicating the effects of acceleration on time. In the second scenario, both twins are flying parallel to each other at constant velocity until one suddenly accelerates and then both accelerate to meet in the middle. The outcome of their clock comparison is unclear, as we are only considering the effects of velocity and not gravitational potential.
  • #1
Agerhell
157
2
We think of two very similar scenarios:

1. Two twins are hoovering with their spacecraft s at an earthlike distance A from the Sun and with no velocity with respect to the Sun. Then one of the twins suddenly accelerates to 100 km per second in some direction. He is now the accelerated twin. After a while when he reaches a Plutolike distance from the Sun B the accelerated twin stops so the two twins are at rest with respect to each other. Then both takes off at 100 km/s and meets in the middle and stops and compare their clocks. They agree that less time have elapsed for the twin that has been traveling at an accelerated speed for a longer period of time.

2. Two twins are flying their spacecraft s in parallel just next to each other at 100 km/s with respect to the Sun. Suddenly, at an earthlike distance A from the Sun, one of the twins accelerates by 100 km/s so that he now is at rest in relation to the Sun . He is now the accelerated twin. The other twin happily flies on at constant velocity in his inertial reference frame until he reaches a Plutolike distance from the sun B where he suddenly accelerates by 100 km/s in the same direction that his twin accelerated. The two twins are now at rest with respect to each other and the Sun. Then both takes off at 100 km/s and meets in the middle and stops and compare their clocks. Now what will their clocks show? Will the clock of the twin that did not accelerate until he reached B show more or less elapsed time than his twin that started off by accelerating?

We ignore the fact that thet have spent time at different gravitational potential and care only of the effect of velocity on time.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Oops, should have been posted in the relativity forum...
 

1. What is the twin paradox in the new version?

The twin paradox, new version, is a thought experiment in special relativity that explores the concept of time dilation. It involves two identical twins, one of whom stays on Earth while the other travels through space at high speeds, and upon their reunion, the twin who traveled will have aged less than the one who stayed on Earth.

2. How is the new version of the twin paradox different from the original version?

In the original version of the twin paradox, the traveling twin would experience time dilation due to their high speeds, but in the new version, they also experience acceleration, which further affects their perception of time. This adds an extra layer of complexity to the thought experiment.

3. What are the implications of the twin paradox in the new version?

The twin paradox, new version, highlights the effects of both speed and acceleration on time dilation. It also challenges our understanding of the concept of simultaneity, as the twins experience events in different orders depending on their reference frames.

4. Is the twin paradox in the new version just a theoretical concept?

While the twin paradox, new version, is a thought experiment, it has real-life implications in the field of space travel. As astronauts travel at high speeds and experience acceleration, they do age at a slower rate compared to people on Earth, albeit only by a few milliseconds.

5. Is the twin paradox in the new version proven by scientific evidence?

The twin paradox, new version, is supported by the principles of special relativity, which have been extensively tested and proven by scientific experiments. However, it is still a theoretical concept and has not been directly observed with human twins due to the limitations of our current technology.

Similar threads

  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
5
Views
643
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
13
Views
2K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
11
Views
1K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
20
Views
2K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
31
Views
1K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
12
Views
935
  • Special and General Relativity
2
Replies
36
Views
3K
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
14
Views
715
  • Special and General Relativity
Replies
24
Views
2K
  • Special and General Relativity
4
Replies
115
Views
5K
Back
Top