Subtleties of the clock retardation

Abstract

For a simple electromagnetic model of a clock introduced by Jefimenko (clock # 1 in 1996 Am. J. Phys. 64 812), a change of the rate of the clock when it is set in uniform motion is calculated exactly, employing the correct equation of motion of a charged particle in the electromagnetic field and the universal boostability assumption. Thus, for the clock under consideration, a dynamical content of the clock retardation is demonstrated. Somewhat surprisingly, the analysis presented discloses that some familiar relativistic generalisations concerning the retardation of clocks have to be amended. PACS numbers: 03.30.+p; 41.20.-q † The somewhat misleading term 'time dilation' was probably introduced by Tolman [7]; incidentally, it appears that 'dilatation' would be the gramatically correct variant [8].