Does Einstein's twin paradox rely on the astronaut twin undergoing acceleration to explain the time difference?

Question

In SR ,two observers in frames of reference which are moving at a constant velocity to one another -- one ,say, "stationary" , one "moving" perceive each other's clocks to be running slower .So why not the twins?

Answer 1

Yes.

Without acceleration both systems are symmetric so they MUST observe the same end result.

As the end result is in the same location and the same frame the two observers must agree according to special relativity.

However, although there is no absolute velocity and we cannot tell which frame is moving, there IS absolute acceleration and we can determine which of the twins is accelerating.

So acceleration must have effects upon time to explain this paradox.

That principle was the basis of the theory of general relativity.



In terms of your update. As both motions are at constant speed, Both the earth and you agree on the amount of time that your clocks will have been running.

Where they DISAGREE is the moment at which you stop the clock.

ie as the earth sees your clock running slowly the earth will see YOUR clock turn off with the same time shown as the earth clock. But they observe you turning it off somewhat later than the earth clock.

Now what happens when you return? If you turn off your clock as you go shooting PAST the earth, then return to be stationary on the earth both clocks will read the same.

If you come to earth and DECELERATE FIRST then compare the clocks they will not read the same.

The act of stopping is what creates the difference.

Answer 2

Most acceleration in clocks using spring affect the clock minutely to make any real difference. In pendulum clocks Acceleration is different at different altitude that the clock exists.Hence at different time potential of space pendulum clocks would indicate different time readings.



The Einstein twin paradox shows that the clocks set at the same time would read the same time and do not care how fast one moves. Aging is radiation dependent and what kind of fast life one is living and the stress that one experiences.



The Twin Paradox is relative to motion at the speed of light. Moving at the speed of light would cause complete atomic structure disintegration; it means that Twin cannot come back in on piece. That is why its called a" paradox" which means it makes no mechanical sense = it basically indicated that Einstein had a good sense of Humour.

Flying to California with a clock reading New York time would show a four hour time difference.It all dependent where one sets the clock at particular locations.



How fast something moves is dependent on which time potential levels of space the motion is traversing.

Answer 3

Different or not?



Answer : Different

 

Provided that the interval in which the traveler stops his watch is irrelevant

Answer 4

Twin paradox is completely solvable in special relativity. The big thing to understand is that there are 3 inertial frames of reference, not only 2 as it seems (one for the stationary brother, one for the brother on the space ship).

The brother on Earth has 1 inertial frame (but it could be another space ship in deep space "standing still" if we really want to eliminate every single piece of general relativity influence), the other brother has one frame while moving away and one different frame while coming back.



So yes, there must be acceleration of some kind to change the direction of the travelling brother velocity, but it's not necessary to take care of it in the math if not for the change in reference frame. It's like when in classical physics things bounce: yes, there's a strong acceleration due to impulsive force, but you can forget about it and treat the bouncing particle as an object with constant speed that suddenly change direction.

Answer 5

Time dilation is general relativity, not special relatively. If the twin on Earth is defined as being stationary, when he looks at his twin's clock on the space ship, the space ship twins click has slowed down. To the space ship twin their clock is ticking at the normal rate.



When the space ship twin looks at the Earth twins clock, the Earth twins clock is ticking much faster. To the Earth twin, THEIR click is ticking at the normal rate.



That is how time dilation works. That is general relativity. Special relativity dies something different.

Answer 6

Clocks only tick at the same speed when there is no relative velocity between them. Therefore there must be acceleration if the clocks start to tick at different speeds.