Twin paradox not including accelerations, it is wrong where?

In summary, the explanation of the twin paradox does not necessarily require acceleration, but rather a change in inertial frames. This can be achieved through acceleration or through other means such as the use of photographs. It is a common misconception that acceleration is the key factor in explaining the twin paradox.
  • #71
f todd baker said:
the traveling twin sees the distance from Earth to destination to be contracted
Ummm, is that not "length contraction"?
 
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  • #72
f todd baker said:
Regardless of which frame you choose to be at rest, the traveling twin sees the distance from Earth to destination to be contracted and the Earth bound twin does not see that distance contracted.

When you choose to observe things from the traveling twin's perspective, you choose the frame in which he is at rest.

Likewise when you choose to observe things from the staying twin's perspective, you choose the frame in which he is at rest.

Thus you cannot claim to to be making observations without regard to which frame you've chosen.
 
  • #73
In the Hitchcock version, during the outgoing trip, it is suspensefully anybody's guess which twin will turn out to be the "outgoing" one, and whose frame-dependent length contraction will appear to be relevant at the end of the scenario.
 
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