The Physical Nature of Time Dilation in The Hafele-Keating Experiment and In GPS Satellite Clocks

Magomed Gadzhiev

Abstract

The reason for the change in the time course in the clocks of the Hafele-Keating experiment and GPS satellites is not relativistic effects, but an increase in the path length due to the displacement of the perihelion of the satellite’s orbit at the corresponding flight altitude. Based on Kepler’s laws, are derived formulas for calculating corrections to the duration of the rotation period. The results of calculations based on these formulas coincide with the predictions of the theory of relativity and with the data of observations and experiments. The correspondence of the calculation results to the observations in the Hafele-Keating experiment when airplanes move in the east and west directions is achieved on the assumption that the displacement of the perihelion orbits does not occur in the direction of motion, as is customary in the theory of relativity, but in the direction of rotation of the center of gravity. This assumption, which was also confirmed when calculating corrections for the duration of the rotation period of GPS satellites, allows us to conclude that the cause of the perihelion shift is the rotation of the center of gravity. It is established that relativistic effects, including the displacement of the perihelion orbits, which are not described by the Newtonian theory of gravity, are a consequence of the influence of the angular momentum of the rotating center of gravity. If the center of gravity does not rotate, then there are no relativistic effects, and all movements of material bodies in the gravitational field occur in accordance with Newton’s classical theory of gravity. Movements in the gravitational field of a rotating center of gravity are described by Newton’s updated theory of gravity, which takes into account the influence of angular momentum, not just the mass of the center of gravity. The influence of the rotation of space objects in the theory of relativity is also taken into account (the Sagnac effect). But this effect is insignificant; the corrections to the clock in GPS satellites, for example, are three orders of magnitude smaller than the corrections from other effects. In Newton’s updated theory of gravity, as in the theory of relativity, time is not absolute. The passage of time depends both on the speed of movement along the orbit and on the distance to the center of gravity, which is confirmed by the coincidence of the calculation results with the clock readings in the Hafele-Keating experiment and in GPS satellites.

Keywords

gravitational theory; twin paradox; perigee shift; GPS satellites; center of attraction

Cite This Article

Gadzhiev, M. (2026). The Physical Nature of Time Dilation in The Hafele-Keating Experiment and In GPS Satellite Clocks. International Journal of Scientific Advances (IJSCIA), Volume 7| Issue 2: Mar – Apr 2026, Pages 292-295 URL: https://www.ijscia.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Volume7-Issue2-Mar-Apr-No.1044-292-295.pdf

Volume 7 | Issue 2: Mar – Apr 2026