# What is time dilation

#### Greg Bernhardt

Definition/Summary

Time dilation is the factor by which an inertial observer measures another observer's clock as going slow.

Time dilation is composed of two factors:
1) a relative factor of $\sqrt{1\ -\ v^2/c^2}$ for Lorentz time dilation, which depends only on the velocity of the clock
2) an absolute factor of $\sqrt{-g\,_{0\,0}}$ for gravitational time dilation, which depends only on the position of the clock.

Time dilation does not depend on the acceleration of the clock.

Lorentz time dilation is mutual for two inertial observers, in the sense that they will each regard the other's clock as running slow by the same factor.

Gravitational time dilation is greater (the clock is slower) where gravity is stronger (and gravitational potential is higher).

Equations

Lorentz (special relativity) time dilation:

$$\sqrt{1\ -\ v^2/c^2}$$

Static metric, with gravitational potential U:

$$ds^2\ =\ g_{00}dt^2\ +\ g_{ij}dx^idx^j\ \simeq\ - (1\ -\ 2U)dt^2\ +\ g_{ij}dx^idx^j$$

Gravitational time dilation in static metric:

$$\sqrt{\frac{g_{00}(clock)}{g_{00}(observer)}}\ \simeq\ \sqrt{\frac{1\ -\ 2U(clock)}{1\ -\ 2U(observer)}}\ \simeq\ 1\ -\ U(clock)\ +\ U(observer)\ =\ 1\ -\ \Delta\,U$$

Schwarzschild (static metric) gravitational potential at distance r from mass M:

$$U\ =\ \frac{2GM}{rc^2}\ =\ \frac{2gr}{c^2}$$

Extended explanation

Accelerating observers:

These formulas are not intended to apply when an accelerating observer measures another observer's clock.

But they do apply when only the clock is accelerating: for example, when an observer on Earth measures a satellite clock.

Time dilation and red-shift:

The Lorentz red-shift or blue-shift for movement directly away from or toward the observer is $\sqrt{(1\ -\ v/c)(1\ +\ v/c)}$

Gravitational red-shift (for any velocity) is the same as gravitational time dilation.

Static metric:

A static metric is stationary (the coefficients do not depend on t), and has $g_{i\,0}\ =\ g_{0\,i}\ =\ 0,\ \ i\ =\ 1,2,3$ (so there are are no "space-and-time" terms such as dxdt dydt or dzdt).

Simultaneity:

For gravitational time dilation to be meaningful, the spacetime metric must … time coordinate … simultaneity … [hmm … still thinking about this … see p100, Ciufolini & Wheeler … anyone wanting to jump in and finish this, or add anything else, be my guest! ]

Approximations:

At low speeds, $\sqrt{1\,-\,v^2/c^2}$ is approximately $1\ -\ (1/2)(v/c)^2$

For example, the Earth orbits the Sun at about 18 miles per second (about 64,000 mph), which is about 1/10,000 of the speed of light, and so time dilation, as seen by a non-orbiting observer, would be about 1 - 1/200,000,000.

Near the speed of light, $\sqrt{1\,-\,v^2/c^2},\ =\ \sqrt{(1\,+\,v/c)(1\,-\,v/c)}$ is approximately $\sqrt{2(1\,-\,v/c)}$

Orbits:

A clock on a satellite in orbit goes slower than a stationary clock on the planet: it has a "slowing-down" SR time dilation depending on its speed, and a smaller "speeding-up" GR time dilation depending on its distance from the planet.

There is no "clock paradox" since the satellite clock is the clock of an accelerating observer, not of an inertial observer (the instantaneous inertial frame of the satellite clock keeps changing).

Circular orbits:

Between two satellites on circular orbits of the same radius, only their relative speed matters.

If they're on the same orbit, in the same direction, then their relative speed will be constant, and there will be no time dilation between them (though both will be slower than a clock on the planet).

On different orbits (of the same radius), there will be time dilation between them (though that dilation will cancel out once every orbit, as can be seen by comparison with any planetary clock).

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#### Amey

Time dilation is a very interesting phenomenon. The closer a body travels to c, the more its clock slows down, according to the Lorentz' Equation. That means for light, the entire universe has contracted into absolute zero length and the time it takes for going from source to anything is zero (for itself). For us, light takes about 8 mins. to reach us from the Sun. But for light, its clock is completely dilated and w.r.t light frame, the time taken is zero. IF a spaceship travels at relativistic speeds, the thoughts, pulse rate,etc. of the astronaut inside will slow down w.r.t the people on Earth. There is even a practical proof for this. Radioactive isotopes which are accelerated to speeds near c in Particle Physics Laboratories have comparatively longer lives than their at-rest counterparts.

#### phinds

Gold Member
Time dilation is a very interesting phenomenon. The closer a body travels to c, the more its clock slows down, according to the Lorentz' Equation. That means for light, the entire universe has contracted into absolute zero length and the time it takes for going from source to anything is zero (for itself). For us, light takes about 8 mins. to reach us from the Sun. But for light, its clock is completely dilated and w.r.t light frame, the time taken is zero. IF a spaceship travels at relativistic speeds, the thoughts, pulse rate,etc. of the astronaut inside will slow down w.r.t the people on Earth. There is even a practical proof for this. Radioactive isotopes which are accelerated to speeds near c in Particle Physics Laboratories have comparatively longer lives than their at-rest counterparts.
You are making the common mistake of believing that there is such a thing as a reference frame for a photon. There is not.

#### Mayank Kumar

I am new in this forum.
I read at Wikipedia About Time dilation and:
1)Understood that gravity bends the space and hence time.
But, does velocity in any manner do alter space/time ?

#### Chronos

Gold Member
The universe tends to ignore misperceptions about the way reality works

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