"Albert Santoni" wrote in message
om...
Hello,

We all know about the atomic clock on an airplane experiment, where it
was experimentally shown that time relative to the Earth will be
faster on an airplane.

It is my understanding that time will also go faster relative to the
Earth if a person is in a less powerful gravitational field. Is this
correct?

If this is correct, then how much of the "time-shift" of the atomic
clock in the airplane is caused by its increased speed, and how much
of it is because it is in a lesser gravitational field (feeling less
force?)

Thanks.

Albert Santoni

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Albert:
As you point out, there are two relativistic sources that provide time
dilation for clocks in motion in a gravitational field (curved spacetime).

(1) The kinematic effect of SR, in which the "moving" clock runs slower.

(2) The gravitational potential effect, in which the the clock at a further
distance from Earth, being at a greater (less negative) potential, runs
faster.

How much of the "time-shift" of the atomic clock in the airplane is caused
by its increased speed, and how much of it is because it is in a lesser
gravitational field (that is, at a greater potential), depends on the speed
and altitude of the airplane.

Eli Botkin