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Physics

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    $\begingroup$ "but the space imbalance is in the distance travelled, not in a permanent flattening of the returning ship" This is where you are getting confused. Aging is the "time travelled". If the twins come to relative rest at the end of the experiment (rateher than the travelling twin just flying by) then they find that their clocks are once again ticking at the same rate. Their time measuring devices are no more pemenantly affected than their rulers. It is only the accumulated time that differs. But then, so do their odometer readings.. $\endgroup$
    – dmckee --- ex-moderator kitten
    Commented Oct 10, 2019 at 19:12
  • $\begingroup$ Their clocks tick at the same rate and their accumulated time differs like you said so their measuring devices are permanently affected. One's body clock will have aged less permanently. $\endgroup$
    – ralfcis
    Commented Oct 10, 2019 at 19:17
  • $\begingroup$ No more (or less) than their rulers are permanently affected simply because they clocked up different distances. Their clocks are once again measuring the same time intervals and their rulers are once again measuring the same space intervals. $\endgroup$
    – dmckee --- ex-moderator kitten
    Commented Oct 10, 2019 at 19:25
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    $\begingroup$ The non-time-based odometer is "reciprocal" to the clock; the ruler isn't. $\endgroup$
    – wizzwizz4
    Commented Oct 11, 2019 at 6:25
  • $\begingroup$ Your comment is interesting. Are you saying time dilation is reciprocal to length contraction and reciprocal time dilation or reciprocal length contraction are not what's important? $\endgroup$
    – ralfcis
    Commented Oct 12, 2019 at 3:54