Introduction
The kinematics of Special Relativity (SR) is predicated on the Lorentz transforms [Lorentz1952]. Although these equations are merely (rescaling) transforms that conserve the covariance of physical laws across relatively moving inertial frames, it is the general perception that the effect of time-dilation (derived from the Lorentz transforms) is a manifest physical effect [1]. As any student of SR knows, this interpretation leads to various paradoxes; notably, the Twin (or Clock) Paradox which is the focus of discussion here [2].
The Twin Paradox
Very simply, the Twin Paradox involves two identical twins, one of whom stays on Earth (frame O) while the other, an astronaut (frame O'), goes on a space-faring journey in a high-speed rocket. Upon her return, the astronaut twin ostensibly finds that she has aged less than her sister who stayed back on Earth - presumably due to effects of time-dilation. This is clearly a paradox because the astronaut twin could very well argue that it's her sister on Earth who should age less, due to the very same effects of time-dilation.
The paradox has been explained away in multiple ways, but mostly by invoking the fact that the situation is not completely symmetrical. For instance, only the astronaut twin actually experiences acceleration when she turns around. Alternatively, the astronaut twin uses two inertial frames - one in each direction of travel - and it's the switch between the frames that causes the asymmetry [Schutz1985].
I submit that all the explanations of the Twin Paradox are faulty; primarily because they seek to explain something that is not a paradox in the first place. And to demonstrate this, I have to re-frame the problem in a way that eliminates the underlying basis for asymmetry.
The kinematics of Special Relativity (SR) is predicated on the Lorentz transforms [Lorentz1952]. Although these equations are merely (rescaling) transforms that conserve the covariance of physical laws across relatively moving inertial frames, it is the general perception that the effect of time-dilation (derived from the Lorentz transforms) is a manifest physical effect [1]. As any student of SR knows, this interpretation leads to various paradoxes; notably, the Twin (or Clock) Paradox which is the focus of discussion here [2].
The Twin Paradox
Very simply, the Twin Paradox involves two identical twins, one of whom stays on Earth (frame O) while the other, an astronaut (frame O'), goes on a space-faring journey in a high-speed rocket. Upon her return, the astronaut twin ostensibly finds that she has aged less than her sister who stayed back on Earth - presumably due to effects of time-dilation. This is clearly a paradox because the astronaut twin could very well argue that it's her sister on Earth who should age less, due to the very same effects of time-dilation.
The paradox has been explained away in multiple ways, but mostly by invoking the fact that the situation is not completely symmetrical. For instance, only the astronaut twin actually experiences acceleration when she turns around. Alternatively, the astronaut twin uses two inertial frames - one in each direction of travel - and it's the switch between the frames that causes the asymmetry [Schutz1985].
I submit that all the explanations of the Twin Paradox are faulty; primarily because they seek to explain something that is not a paradox in the first place. And to demonstrate this, I have to re-frame the problem in a way that eliminates the underlying basis for asymmetry.
