What the Global Positioning System Tells Us about the Twin?s Paradox

From Natural Philosophy Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Scientific Paper
Title What the Global Positioning System Tells Us about the Twin?s Paradox
Read in full Link to paper
Author(s) Tom Van Flandern
Keywords GPS, atomic clocks, twin paradox
Published 2003
Journal Apeiron
Volume 10
Number 1
No. of pages 6
Pages 18

Read the full paper here

Abstract

In the GPS, all atomic clocks in all reference frames (in orbit and on the ground) are set once and stay synchronized. We can use this same trick to place a GPS-type clock aboard the spacecraft of a traveling twin. That clock will stay synchronized with Earth clocks, allowing a clear resolution of the twin?s paradox in special relativity ?why the traveller expects to come back younger, and why the stay-at-home twin is not entitled to the same expectation."