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Einstein's twin paradox explained - Amber Stuver

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On their 20th birthday, identical twin astronauts volunteer for an experiment. Terra will remain on Earth, while Stella will board a spaceship. Stella’s ship will travel to visit a star that is 10 light-years away, then return to Earth. As they prepare to part ways, the twins wonder what will happen when they’re reunited. Who will be older? Amber Stuver investigates the “Twin Paradox.”

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There are several different ways to prove that the “Twin Paradox” isn’t really a paradox at all. In this explanation, we focused on the arrival time of light signals from both twins. Besides measuring the time interval of these signals, Terra and Stella could measure changes in the properties of the light they receive. Let’s assume that Terra and Stella send each other a light signal of the same color (wavelength) and they are sending this light constantly (not yearly as described in the animation). a. What change in the color of light (change in wavelength) would Terra measure while Stella is moving toward the destination star? (It is helpful to remember that the speed of light is the same regardless of the speed of it source.) b. During that same time, what change in color (change in wavelength) of light would Stella measure coming from Terra? c. What do these changes mean for how time is passing where the light was emitted? d. How can you use just information about the change in the wavelength of the received light (not the arrival time of light) to prove that the “Twin Paradox” isn’t a paradox at all?

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About Space Ed

Space Ed helps you untangle the mysteries of space with the universe’s best videos on everything from Einstein's theory of relativity to what it would take to live on Mars. Brush up on the science, philosophy and mystery of space, because the fabric of the universe is the same fabric that connects us all.

Meet The Creators

  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Educator Amber L. Stuver
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Fact-checker Brian Gutierrez
  • Sound Designer André Aires
  • Producer Tom Knight
  • Music AIM Creative Studios
  • Animation Mulligan Studio, Ricardo Coelho
  • Character Designer Rui Almeida
  • 3D Animator Hélder Vasconcelos
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