Hafele and Keating revisited: A novel interpretation of the results of the Hafele‐Keating experiment

Abstract

The Hafele‐Keating experiment showed the occurrence of time dilation in clocks placed on two airplanes, one moving eastward and one moving westward relative to the Earth’s rotation. However, the application of the special theory of relativity failed to account for the significant differences in the data. This problem is solved by a novel approach that focuses on the absolute velocities of the clocks with reference to the Earth’s rotation and uses space as a fixed reference point. The basic idea here is that time dilatation is an experimental fact and, therefore, independent from the theory behind it, so it is independent from relativism. Time dilatation also can occur under absolute conditions. Up until now, it is not clear if the concept of relativism is correct or not. The existence of time dilatation cannot be proofs for relativism as time dilatation also can occur under absolute conditions. Here, it is established that the eastbound plane had a higher absolute velocity than its westbound counterpart, resulting in time dilation figures of 50 and 140 ns, respectively.