Confronting Twin Paradox Acceleration

• Thomas W. Murphy Jr ^[1]
  1. [1] University of California
• Localización: The Physics Teacher, ISSN 0031-921X, Vol. 54, Nº. 5, 2016, págs. 272-276
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The resolution to the classic twin paradox in special relativity rests on the asymmetry of acceleration. Yet most students are not exposed to a satisfactory analysis of what exactly happens during the acceleration phase that results in the nonaccelerated observer's more rapid aging. The simple treatment presented here offers both graphical and quantitative solutions to the problem, leading to the correct result that the acceleration-induced age gap is 2Lβ years when the one-way distance L is expressed in light-years and velocity β≡vc.