A variation of the clock paradox and a distinguishing feature of an inertial frame

TL;DR

This paper examines a variation of the clock paradox where the outbound and return trips are at unequal velocities, revealing a potential feature of inertial frames related to clock synchronicity.

Contribution

It introduces a new perspective on inertial frames based on the continuous maintenance of clock synchronicity during motion.

Findings

Distances covered differ for the stationary observer

Inertial frames maintain clock synchronicity

Analysis uses special relativity formulations

Abstract

The clock paradox is analyzed for the case when the onward and return trips cover the same <<distance>> (as observed by the traveling twin) but at unequal velocities. In this case the stationary twin observes the distances covered by her sister during the onward and return trips to be different. The analysis is presented using formulations of special relativity and the only requirement for consistency is that all observations are made from any one chosen inertial frame. The analysis suggests that a defining feature of an inertial frame should be based on the continued maintenance of the distinctive synchronicity of the clocks co-moving with it. Published in Journal of Physical and Natural Sciences Volume 1, Issue 1, 2007 http://www.scientificjournals.org/journals2007/articles/1102.pdf