6 ms·
This is even a thing at non-relativistic speeds. Proper operation of GPS requires a time correction [1] because the system's satellites are moving at significa
by AnIrishDuck 4y ago
This is even a thing at non-relativistic speeds.
Proper operation of GPS requires a time correction [1] because the system's satellites are moving at significant speed from the perspective of ground observers. Their onboard clocks are therefore moving relatively faster through space, and thus relatively slower through time.
This is measurable at the nanosecond scale, and must be taken into account every time something uses GPS.
1. https://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/pogge.1/Ast162/Unit5/gps.html https://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/pogge.1/Ast162/Unit5/gp...
- tialaramex 4y agoI mean, technically what's going on is that satellites move at relativistic speed. "Relativistic speed" doesn't mean some particular speed, like 0.1c or something, it just means any speed where your measurements don't make sense without accounting for relativity, if your measurements were good enough this just doesn't have to be that fast really. However, do you remember simple school spring balance experiments which show Newtonian mechanics? Greg Egan's "Incandescence" is a novel about some people who live somewhere where those type of experiments need relativity to explain them, so, when they develop physics they go from "I dunno, it just always does that" straight to relativity because Newtonian mechanics don't explain what they already know about the world.