Mmastodon ScienceScience first seen 1 d ago, last 18 h ago, peak #3

GPS depends on Einstein's relativity, physicists remind readers

Original: 🛰️ Your phone's GPS only works because of Einstein. Up in orbit, gravity is weaker, so the satellites' atomic clocks tic

Satellite atomic clocks in orbit tick about 38 microseconds faster per day than clocks on Earth because gravity is weaker at altitude. Engineers constantly correct for this relativistic effect; without it, GPS positions would drift by roughly 10 kilometres each day, making navigation unreliable. The explanation highlights how Einstein's theories of relativity underpin a technology most people use daily without thinking about the physics involved.

Why now: An accessible explanation of how relativity affects everyday GPS has been circulating online.

GPSAlbert Einsteinsatellitesatomic clocks

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Evidence

• 🛰️ Your phone's GPS only works because of Einstein. Up in orbit, gravity is weaker, so the satellites' atomic clocks tick about 38 microseconds faster per day than clocks on Earth. Engineers correct for it constantly — without relativity, your position would drift by ~10 km… · eatrics · 3

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