Experimental Confirmation
Gravitational time dilation has been experimentally measured using atomic clocks on airplanes. The clocks aboard the airplanes were slightly faster with respect to clocks on the ground. The effect is significant enough that the Global Positioning System's artificial satellites need to have their clocks corrected.
Additionally, time dilations due to height differences of less than 1 meter have been experimentally verified in the laboratory.
Gravitational time dilation has also been confirmed by the Pound–Rebka experiment, observations of the spectra of the white dwarf Sirius B and experiments with time signals sent to and from Viking 1 Mars lander.
Read more about this topic: Gravitational Time Dilation
Famous quotes containing the words experimental and/or confirmation:
“Philosophers of science constantly discuss theories and representation of reality, but say almost nothing about experiment, technology, or the use of knowledge to alter the world. This is odd, because experimental method used to be just another name for scientific method.... I hope [to] initiate a Back-to-Bacon movement, in which we attend more seriously to experimental science. Experimentation has a life of its own.”
—Ian Hacking (b. 1936)
“Trifles light as air
Are to the jealous confirmation strong
As proofs of holy writ.”
—William Shakespeare (15641616)