- #1
mariusmyburg
Good day. I have read many books, forums, and articles, and watched many youtube videos, all in an effort to understand special relativity and time dilation. Or rather, more precisely, trying to find a valid explanation that does not result in contradictions and paradoxes, and if it does, one that explains why the theory is nevertheless correct, i.e. gives an intellectually acceptable explanation.
I have never found this. So I asked prominent physicists - and never received any reply.
That is why I am here. I would like to ask some questions to anyone who believes that he understands enough of the fundamental theory of time dilation and special relativity. Surely, someone must be able to answer a few questions and finally help me understand how this is not ridiculous and paradoxical. I WANT to learn, I want to understand. But I cannot and will not just accept any claim as if it were gospel, if some serious questions cannot be answered.
And so, I want to please start by asking for a brief explanation of why anyone thinks that time dilation is real. You are welcome to provide either a purely theoretical explanation like a thought experiment, or links to peer-reviewed actual experiments that prove that time dilation is in fact real. Just saying 'otherwise satellites would not work' is not an adequate answer, I would need you to explain exactly why that is the case.
So perhaps it would be easiest if we start with the thought-experiments that Einstein apparently did, to come to his conclusions. Would anyone mind explaining the fundamental thought experiment to me, and explaining the conclusion?
Thank you,
Marius.
I have never found this. So I asked prominent physicists - and never received any reply.
That is why I am here. I would like to ask some questions to anyone who believes that he understands enough of the fundamental theory of time dilation and special relativity. Surely, someone must be able to answer a few questions and finally help me understand how this is not ridiculous and paradoxical. I WANT to learn, I want to understand. But I cannot and will not just accept any claim as if it were gospel, if some serious questions cannot be answered.
And so, I want to please start by asking for a brief explanation of why anyone thinks that time dilation is real. You are welcome to provide either a purely theoretical explanation like a thought experiment, or links to peer-reviewed actual experiments that prove that time dilation is in fact real. Just saying 'otherwise satellites would not work' is not an adequate answer, I would need you to explain exactly why that is the case.
So perhaps it would be easiest if we start with the thought-experiments that Einstein apparently did, to come to his conclusions. Would anyone mind explaining the fundamental thought experiment to me, and explaining the conclusion?
Thank you,
Marius.