A phenomenon related to special and general relativity.
In → special relativity, the apparent shortening of
time that occurs at speeds approaching that of light. A clock moving relative to a
stationary observer will
appear to slow down by a factor √(1- v2/c2), where
v is the velocity and c the speed of light.
→ twins paradox.
In → general relativity, a clock in a stronger
gravitational field runs more slowly. The dilation factor is given by:
√(1- 2GM/rc2),
where G is the gravitational constant,
M the mass of the object creating the gravitational field,
r a radial coordinate of the observer, which is analogous to the classical
distance from the center of the object, and c the speed of light.
Etymology (EN): → time; dilation, verbal noun of dilate, from
M.E. dilaten, from O.Fr. dilater, from L. dilatare
“make wider, enlarge,” from → dis-
“apart” + latus “wide.”
Etymology (PE): Farâxeš, → dilation;
zamân, → time.
