The 'twin paradox' in relativistic rigid motion
Uri Ben-Ya’acov
Abstract
Open-access reader
Uri Ben-Ya’acov
Abstract
Open-access reader
Relativistic rigid motion suggests a new version for the so-called `twin paradox', comparing the ages of two astronauts on a very long spaceship. Although there is always an instantaneous inertial frame in which the whole spaceship, being rigid, is simultaneously at rest, the twins' ages, measured as the proper-times along their individual world lines, are different when they are located at remote parts of the spaceship. The age, or proper-time, difference depends on the distance at rest between the astronauts and the rapidity difference between start to end. The relation of the age difference with the relative Doppler shift of light signals transmitted between the astronauts, and implications for the possibility to assign common age (proper-time) to complex, spatially extended, relativistic systems, are also discussed. The condition for simultaneous arrival of light signals emitted simultaneously from the opposite ends of a rigidly accelerating spaceship is resolved.
A significance statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.
A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.
Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.
Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.
Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.
Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.
Relativistic rigid motion suggests a new version for the so-called `twin paradox', comparing the ages of two astronauts on a very long spaceship. Although there is always an instantaneous inertial frame in which the whole spaceship, being rigid, is simultaneously at rest, the twins' ages, measured as the proper-times along their individual world lines, are different when they are located at remote parts of the spaceship. The age, or proper-time, difference depends on the distance at rest between the astronauts and the rapidity difference between start to end. The relation of the age difference with the relative Doppler shift of light signals transmitted between the astronauts, and implications for the possibility to assign common age (proper-time) to complex, spatially extended, relativistic systems, are also discussed. The condition for simultaneous arrival of light signals emitted simultaneously from the opposite ends of a rigidly accelerating spaceship is resolved.
Key concepts: Twin paradox, Rest frame, Rest (music), Physics, Inertial frame of reference, Reference frame, Doppler effect, Motion (physics)