Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: InfraDead on 19/01/2008 20:01:27

Title: What is Time Dilation?
Post by: InfraDead on 19/01/2008 20:01:27

I've heard of this, but don't know what it is. Can anyone help me out?

Title: What is Time Dilation?
Post by: lightarrow on 20/01/2008 12:54:59

Quote from: InfraDead on 19/01/2008 20:01:27

I've heard of this, but don't know what it is. Can anyone help me out?

You are stationary in an inertial ref frame (as first approximation you can take earth) and you analyze a very fast moving object which has a clock attached to it. You measure with your clock the time the object takes to go from point A to point B of your ref frame, call it Δt; you also take notice of the time interval measured from the clock on the object, call it Δt'. It results that Δt > Δt'. 

Title: What is Time Dilation?
Post by: kalayzor on 20/01/2008 14:39:51

Essentially, a clock on a moving object goes slower than one available to an observer in an inertial (unaccelerated) reference frame.  It only really becomes noticeable above 0.9c, though.

From what I've read, it has to deal with going perpendicular to the fabric of space-time (sort of like black holes) and thus going "outside" of normal time.

Title: What is Time Dilation?
Post by: InfraDead on 20/01/2008 19:21:08

Cheers

Title: What is Time Dilation?
Post by: lightarrow on 21/01/2008 00:12:49

Quote from: kalayzor on 20/01/2008 14:39:51

It only really becomes noticeable above 0.9c, though.

Not exactly:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafele-Keating_experiment