Yes, time dilation can be experienced without physically traveling through space. Time dilation is a phenomenon predicted by the theory of relativity, which states that time can appear to run at different rates depending on the relative motion or gravitational field between two observers.
Two common scenarios where time dilation can be observed experimentally are:
Relative motion time dilation (kinematic time dilation): When an object or observer is moving relative to another object or observer, their respective clocks will tick at different rates. This effect becomes noticeable at speeds approaching the speed of light. For example, experiments with high-precision atomic clocks on fast-moving airplanes or satellites have confirmed the predictions of time dilation due to relative motion.
Gravitational time dilation: The presence of a strong gravitational field can also cause time dilation. According to general relativity, clocks in a stronger gravitational field will appear to run slower compared to clocks in a weaker gravitational field. This effect has been observed in experiments involving precise measurements of time using atomic clocks placed at different altitudes. For instance, atomic clocks on satellites orbiting the Earth experience a slightly faster time than clocks on the Earth's surface due to the weaker gravitational field at higher altitudes.
In both cases, time dilation can be experienced and measured without physically traveling through space. These effects have been experimentally verified and are fundamental aspects of the theory of relativity.