Time Dilation

GRE Subject Test: Physics · Learn by Concept

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GRE Subject Test: Physics › Time Dilation

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At one point in time, two twins are 30 years old. At this time, one of them gets on a rocket and travels at 0.8 c, for what he experiences to be 12 years. How old is the twin that remained on Earth when the traveling twin returns home?

50 years old

CORRECT

37 years old

42 years old

70 years old

Explanation

The equation for time dilation is given by:

$T'=\frac{T}{\sqrt{1-\frac{v^2}{c^2}}}$

In this problem v=0.8c T=12. Using this equation, we get:

$T'=\frac{12}{\sqrt{1-(\frac{4}{5})^2}}=\frac{12}{\sqrt{1-\frac{16}{25}}}=\frac{12}{\sqrt{\frac{9}{25}}} =\frac{12}{\frac{3}{5}}=(12)(\frac{5}{3})=20$

Adding 20 years to the age initial age of 30:

The Earth-twin is now 50.

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