The Twin Paradox

The Twin Paradox illustrates how time can differ due to relative motion. If one twin travels at near the speed of light on a spaceship and then returns, they will have aged less than the stay-at-home twin. This happens because, according to Einstein’s special relativity, time slows down for objects moving at high speeds. The traveling twin experiences less time passing during their journey, so upon reunion, they are younger. The paradox is resolved by understanding that the traveling twin's frame involves acceleration and changes in reference frames, which breaks the symmetry and explains why their aging differs.