Time dilation means that time passes differently for different observers from "summary" of Time Travel in Einstein's Universe by J. Richard Gott
Imagine two observers, one on a speeding rocket ship and the other on a stationary planet. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, time would pass differently for each of them. The observer on the rocket ship would experience time passing more slowly compared to the observer on the planet. This phenomenon is known as time dilation. The reason behind this is that time is not a fixed concept but rather a fluid one that can change depending on the relative motion of observers. As an observer's speed increases, time for them begins to slow down. This means that two observers moving at different speeds would actually experience time in different ways. This concept can be mind-boggling to think about, but it has been proven through various experiments and observations. For example, scientists have observed that clocks on satellites orbiting the Earth run slightly faster than clocks on the surface. This discrepancy is due to the effects of time dilation caused by the satellite's high speed relative to the planet. Time dilation is not just a theoretical concept—it has real-world implications for things like GPS systems, which rely on precise timing to function accurately. Understanding how time passes differently for different observers is crucial for making accurate calculations and predictions in fields like physics and astronomy.
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