Originally Posted by
megafiddle
No, I wish I had one. But I will use the "bouncing photon clock" just to illustrate what I mean by "a thought experiment that is so simple".
The "experiment" is based on just three quantities, length, time, and velocity. Also it is based on just two scientific facts or principles, motion is relative,
and the velocity of light is constant for all observers.
It just seems that the following must be true:
The photon in the moving clock must travel a longer path between clock "ticks".
The photon must travel at the same velocity in the travelling clock as it does in the stationary (reference frame) clock.
Time = Distance / Velocity; therefore if distance increases, then time increases (time has slowed).
I would imagine though, that another thought experiment could just as well be a valid refutation, if one exists.