Abstract
The differential aging effect is shown to be valid in any physically reasonable extension of the special theory of relativity which includes a description of accelerating observers. Einstein's controversial assumption—the clock hypothesis—is avoided. Instead, it is sufficient to assume accessibility—that it is possible to travel from one inertial observer to another and then return to the first in a reasonable manner. Since Minkowski space-time displays this accessibility property, there must be an error in Sachs's quaternion development of general relativity. No assumptions concerning measurements—proper time—of accelerating observers are necessary, nor are assumptions concerning special features of their motion—uniform acceleration.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
M. Sachs, A resolution of the clock paradox,Physics Today 24 (9), 23–28 (1971).
L. Marder,Time and the Space-Traveler (George Allen and Unwin Ltd, London, 1971).
H. Bondi, Some special solutions of the Einstein equations, in Brandeis Summer Institute in Theoretical Physics, Vol. 1 (Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N. J., 1964).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Miller, G. The inexactness of time. Found Phys 3, 389–398 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708680
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00708680