The twin paradox: the role of acceleration

TL;DR

This paper revisits the twin paradox, emphasizing the crucial role of acceleration in understanding the age difference, which has often been overlooked or dismissed in traditional explanations.

Contribution

It clarifies the importance of acceleration in resolving the twin paradox, challenging the common view that it is a red-herring and highlighting its fundamental role.

Findings

Acceleration is essential in resolving the twin paradox.

Traditional explanations often dismiss acceleration as irrelevant.

A proper analysis shows acceleration's crucial role in age difference.

Abstract

The twin paradox, which evokes from the the idea that two twins may age differently because of their relative motion, has been studied and explained ever since it was first described in 1906, the year after special relativity was invented. The question can be asked: "Is there anything more to say?" It seems evident that acceleration has a role to play, however this role has largely been brushed aside since it is not required in calculating, in a preferred reference frame, the relative age difference of the twins. Indeed, if one tries to calculate the age difference from the point of the view of the twin that undergoes the acceleration, then the role of the acceleration is crucial and cannot be dismissed. In the resolution of the twin paradox, the role of the acceleration has been denigrated to the extent that it has been treated as a red-herring. This is a mistake and shows a clear misunderstanding of the twin paradox.