Two atomic clocks are synchronized. One is placed on a satellite which orbits ar

Question

Two atomic clocks are synchronized. One is placed on a satellite which orbits around the earth at high speeds for a whole year. The other is placed in a lab and remains at rest with respect to the earth. You may assume both clocks can measure time accurately to many significant digits.

a)Will the two clocks still be synchronized after one year?

b) imagine the speed of light is much lower than its actual value. How would the results of this experiment change if the speed of light was only twice the average speed of the satellite? Explain your reasoning using a calculation.

Explanation / Answer

No, the two clocks will not be synchronized after one year. The clock on the satellite will lose very small amount of time due to their motion with respect to the clocks on earth. The clock in outer space has changed frame of reference while the clock on earth has not.

b)
If the speed of light was only twice the average speed of the satellite more time dilation would occur. As objects approach the speed of light, time becomes dilated.
Let x= the speed of the satellite
therefore 2x= the speed of light
Is it a valid move to call it x? They do not give us a velocity for the satellite...
t_s= 3.1536 * 10^7 (seconds in a year)

?tm = ?ts/?(1-v^2/c^2)
?tm = ?ts/?(1-(x^2)/(4x^2))
?tm =(3.1536 * 10^7) /?(1-0.25)
?tm =36414636.18

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