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How to Explore the GPS Time Dilation 3D Explorer
Open the GPS Time Dilation 3D Explorer, scrub the day counter, and toggle the relativistic correction on and off while the facts panel tracks the accumulated clock drift and position-error estimate.
- Open https://freetoolonline.com/space-3d/gps-time-dilation.html and wait for Earth, the orbiting GPS satellite, and the facts panel to render.
- Read the facts panel's three relativity rates: -7 microseconds/day (special relativity), +45 microseconds/day (general relativity), and +38 microseconds/day net.
- Drag the day scrub slider (0-30 days) to accumulate the drift day by day.
- Click the correction toggle to switch to "Correction: OFF" and watch the drift and position-error estimate grow with each day.
- Watch the satellite's beacon color change as the estimated position error crosses 1 km, 50 km, and 150 km.
- Click the toggle again to switch back to "Correction: ON" and see the drift reset to zero.
Key published figures
| Figure | Value |
|---|---|
| Special relativity (velocity) | -7 microseconds/day |
| General relativity (altitude) | +45 microseconds/day |
| Net effect (uncorrected) | +38 microseconds/day |
| Uncorrected position error | about 10 km/day |
| Source | Neil Ashby, Living Reviews in Relativity (2003) |
Next: the when guide or vs alternatives. Open the GPS Time Dilation 3D Explorer.
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