Why do moving clocks slow down relative to each other in Einstein's theory?

[zoobyshoe]

I don't understand the thing
with Einstein and the moving
clocks. Two clocks moving re-
lative to each other; each
percieves the other to be keep-
ing slower time? Signals sent
back and forth arrive later than
expected?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Yes.


What is it you don't understand?

 

[zoobyshoe]

HallsofIvy,

Thanks for responding.

I recently looked this up in the
New Illustrated Science and Inve-
ntion Encyclopedia and was com-
pletely confused when I found what
has to have been an error on the
part of the writer and illustrator
of the article.

I went back to the original Einstein but found his discussion
to be dependent on the preceeding
chapters.

My sense is that it can probably
be explained independantly of
the whole theory, as the Encyclo-
pedia tried to do, but only by
someone who actually understands
it.

I'll start off by saying that I
understand the concept and formula
for calculating distance by
reflected light.

Thanks
-Zoob