- #1
Al68
Why do most explanations of the Twins Paradox claim that the twin on the spaceship ages less because he is the one who undergoes acceleration and/or changes direction, causing asymmetry between the points of view of each twin? It seems clear to me that the twin on the spaceship would age less even if we ignore acceleration, or if we use a variation of the Twin Paradox where there is no acceleration of either twin during the experiment.
The Twins Paradox is asymmetrical in a very important way that has nothing to do with acceleration, and that is rarely even mentioned. The turnaround point is stipulated to be a certain distance from earth, as measured from earth, typically a distant star assumed to be at rest relative to earth. Each twin uses the distance between Earth and this distant star, and the elapsed time of the trip between them in their calculations, then they compare them to each other.
Importantly, these two objects (earth and the distant star) are both at rest relative to the twin on earth, and they are both in motion relative to the twin on the space ship. Without showing all the math, this fact alone accounts for the asymmetry between the respective twins.
I would also note that it is possible to come up with a version of the Twin Paradox in which the twin in the space ship, who undergoes acceleration and turns around to return to earth, ages more than the twin on earth, according to SR. This could be done by stipulating the distance traveled as the distance between two objects at rest relative to the ship, but in motion relative to earth. Perhaps using a rigid rod a few light years long being pulled by the ship.
I didn't include the text of the Twins Paradox here, and I left out the math for the sake of brevity, but I am really looking for comments from someone already familiar with both.
Thanks,
Alan
The Twins Paradox is asymmetrical in a very important way that has nothing to do with acceleration, and that is rarely even mentioned. The turnaround point is stipulated to be a certain distance from earth, as measured from earth, typically a distant star assumed to be at rest relative to earth. Each twin uses the distance between Earth and this distant star, and the elapsed time of the trip between them in their calculations, then they compare them to each other.
Importantly, these two objects (earth and the distant star) are both at rest relative to the twin on earth, and they are both in motion relative to the twin on the space ship. Without showing all the math, this fact alone accounts for the asymmetry between the respective twins.
I would also note that it is possible to come up with a version of the Twin Paradox in which the twin in the space ship, who undergoes acceleration and turns around to return to earth, ages more than the twin on earth, according to SR. This could be done by stipulating the distance traveled as the distance between two objects at rest relative to the ship, but in motion relative to earth. Perhaps using a rigid rod a few light years long being pulled by the ship.
I didn't include the text of the Twins Paradox here, and I left out the math for the sake of brevity, but I am really looking for comments from someone already familiar with both.
Thanks,
Alan