Abstract
IT has been questioned whether a discrepancy in time would be observed when comparing clocks at the completion of a space journey. It seems to me that one need not await the advent of space travel at extreme speeds for experimental evidence, since a closely analogous experiment could be performed on the Earth. A suitable clock exists in the form of unstable particles of known half-life. Particles possessing charge in combination with a convenient mass and half-life could be injected into a synchrotron and circulated for a measured time-interval before emerging. Some would disintegrate within the synchrotron and fail to emerge. By comparing the number entering in unit time with the number emerging, any increase in the life of the particles, as measured by the stationary observer, could be determined.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
HERMAN, R. Suggested Experiment on the Relativistic Contraction of Time. Nature 178, 689 (1956). https://doi.org/10.1038/178689a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/178689a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.