That Time Problem??

[LJP07]

You'd often see in textbooks and even in internet articles that common fact that clocks move at different rates, one up in space and one on Earth etc. But how can a mechanical clock move slower or quicker or time move slower or quicker, even as an educated person in science, I can't seem to fathom such a simple problem?

Plus, if time moves at different rates, and you go further and further into space, aren't you effectively heading into the future and likewise if time moved slower you'd be heading into a "Past" sense??

[sanctus]

You are actually heading to the future. think of the twin paradox, the one who goes to space and comes back is in a future earth on which he wouldn't have been otherwise.

[Jet2]

I think Space has its own time standard / concept which should be different from ours on Earth and that was something we don't know yet or may not be able to know easily. After all Science is not a 'All Can Do' thing.

[CHADS]

Look at gravity potentials too ... but the doppler effect in the twin paradox will give you the general overveiw.

Its basicaly like the faster you go the more you move into suspended animation in comparison to the comparible clock on earth i think.

[Shubee]

Originally Posted by LJP07

How can a mechanical clock move slower or quicker or time move slower or quicker, even as an educated person in science, I can't seem to fathom such a simple problem?

You need to add one curious fact. Forgetting gravity for a second, the slowing down and quickening of time works in such a way such that the measuring of these effects are the same everywhere in the universe. Also, the effect is exactly the same no matter how fast you’re traveling through space. In a sense, all the laws of physics are conspiring against us. This is called the principle of relativity. The outcome of all tests on moving clocks are independent of our location and velocity through space.

The mathematics of the time dilation effect is contained in the Lorentz transformation equations. If you have mastered high school algebra, then you can begin to understand the physics. See A Derivation of the Lorentz Transformation From a Simple Definition of Time.

[Becca]

Didn't somebody do this with atomic clocks? There was one stationary and one was accelerated to high speeds on some sort of (monorail style) track. The two clocks recorded different durations for the moving clock's trip. The difference was very small but thought to be accurate because of the nature of the clocks. Can anybody back me up on this?

Becca

[HydrogenBond]

Times is always moving forward but can move forward at different rates depending on the reference. Time dilation means the flow of time has slowed in that reference. But it is still moving forward. This is easier to explain if you look at time as a type of potential. Relative to the twin paradox, we give them both a gallon of time potential. The one on the stationary reference drinks faster. The one on the moving reference drinks slower (time dilation) so when he returns to earth he has extra left over.

Time potential is not a established concept. The alternative never seems to create a meeting of minds for many because it gets too abstract. It require too many assumptions. Time potential only needs one assumption.

[freeztar]

Originally Posted by Becca

Can anybody back me up on this?

Becca

Perhaps you're thinking of the Hafele-Keating experiment?

[InfiniteNow]

Hi Becca,

I haven't heard of it being done on trains (this does not, however, mean that it has not, just that I haven't heard of it). It has, however, been done on planes (specifically, as Freezy mentioned with the Hafele-Keating experiment).

YouTube - Time dilation experiment

Also, automobiles.




This site does a quick, but accessible, overview:

ticks 'n bricks

[Southtown]

At present time, to me time is the flip-side of the space coin. Space is the distance between locations, and time is the distance between moments, however dynamic the relation amongst the things about which we know very little may be.

But the guy was asking about gravity. How could time pass by differently in orbit than it does on the surface. I can't answer, so I share in his desire to realize such an explanation.