A computational approach to the twin paradox in curved spacetime. (6th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fung, Kenneth K H; Clark, Hamish A; Lewis, Geraint F; Wu, Xiaofeng
• Is Part Of: European journal of physics. Volume 37:Number 5(2016:Sep.)
• Publication Date: 2016-07-06
• Subjects: relativity -- twin paradox -- black holes -- wormholes; 04.20.-q -- 03.30.+p -- 95.30.Sf; Physics -- Periodicals; Physics -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- Europe -- Periodicals; 530
• DOI: 10.1088/0143-0807/37/5/055602
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-0807

Abstract

Abstract: Despite being a major component in the teaching of special relativity, the twin 'paradox' is generally not examined in courses on general relativity. Due to the complexity of analytical solutions to the problem, the paradox is often neglected entirely, and students are left with an incomplete understanding of the relativistic behaviour of time. This article outlines a project, undertaken by undergraduate physics students at the University of Sydney, in which a novel computational method was derived in order to predict the time experienced by a twin following a number of paths between two given spacetime coordinates. By utilising this method, it is possible to make clear to students that following a geodesic in curved spacetime does not always result in the greatest experienced proper time.