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Einstein's twin paradox explained - Amber Stuver

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TEDEd Animation

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On their 20th birthday, identical twin astronauts volunteer for an experiment. Terra will remain on Earth, while Stella will board a spaceship. Stella’s ship will travel to visit a star that is 10 light-years away, then return to Earth. As they prepare to part ways, the twins wonder what will happen when they’re reunited. Who will be older? Amber Stuver investigates the “Twin Paradox.”

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Stella is traveling on her spaceship at a velocity that makes the distance between the Earth and the destination star appear 80% the distance that Terra measures on Earth. When Stella measures 200 seconds pass on the spaceship, how many seconds have passed for Terra on Earth?

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Amber L. Stuver
  • Director AIM Creative Studios, Rui Almeida
  • Narrator Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Producer Tom Knight
  • Sound Designer André Aires
  • Animation Mulligan Studio, Ricardo Coelho
  • Composer André Aires
  • Storyboard Artist Rui Almeida
  • Illustrator Rui Almeida
  • Character Designer Rui Almeida
  • 3D Animator Hélder Vasconcelos
  • Music AIM Creative Studios
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Fact-Checker Brian Gutierrez

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