Time Dilation Experiments

Time dilation experiments demonstrate that time is affected by speed and gravity, as predicted by Einstein's relativity. When particles travel close to the speed of light or are in strong gravitational fields, their internal clocks run slower compared to those stationary or in weaker gravity. For example, atomic clocks flown on airplanes or placed at varying altitudes show slight differences in elapsed time. Similarly, muons created by cosmic rays decay more slowly when moving near light speed. These experiments confirm that time is not absolute but depends on relative motion and gravity, fundamentally altering our understanding of time and space.