Time dilation

[toruk]

What would be your strongest argument that time dilation is true?

[ydoaPs]

What would be your strongest argument that time dilation is true?

It has been experimentally confirmed.

[toruk]

It has been experimentally confirmed.

 

Best reference?

[Zarnaxus]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_dilation#Experimental_confirmation look at the experimental confirmation section, where it describes the numurous tests confirming time dilation. (yes i did just state something obvious)

[Mr Skeptic]

Probably the clocks in the GPS system.

[toruk]

Very good thanks a lot. It answers the question - what do you do with someone that wants to argue all day time dilation is not true.

[owl]

What is the difference between these two statements:

"Time dilation is true as proven by many experiments."

And

Clocks "tick" at different rates in different inertial circumstances, as proven by many experiments."

 

BTW, I know that the "lifespan of muons" increases in "different inertial circumstrances" and that GPS clocks require correction according to their different "circumstances"... but this is a question about the ontology of time as a variable entity as contrasted with clocks as variable measuring devices.

 

The standard, matter of fact statement, "Time dilation is true," ignores the above distinction.

 

Owl

[swansont]

What is the difference between these two statements:

"Time dilation is true as proven by many experiments."

And

Clocks "tick" at different rates in different inertial circumstances, as proven by many experiments."

 

BTW, I know that the "lifespan of muons" increases in "different inertial circumstrances" and that GPS clocks require correction according to their different "circumstances"... but this is a question about the ontology of time as a variable entity as contrasted with clocks as variable measuring devices.

 

The standard, matter of fact statement, "Time dilation is true," ignores the above distinction.

 

Owl

 

Clocks "tick" at different rates in different inertial circumstances, as proven by many experiments. does not specifically address the issue of whether it's a mechanical issue of the clock. But this issue has not been ignored — different types of clocks have been tested, and they all show the time dilation effect. So we conclude that the timing changes are due to the effects of relativity.

[ajb]

...what do you do with someone that wants to argue all day time dilation is not true.

 

Punch them in the face.

 

No, violence is not the answer here. All you can do is suggest they read up on special relativity and give them some references to the experiments that confirm relativity. There are plenty of them, as well as many other more indirect tests.

 

If that does not help, then just walk away.

[swansont]

!

Moderator Note

Ontology tangent has been moved to http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/54529-ontology-of-time/