In the movie "Interstellar," the depiction of time dilation is based on the principles of Einstein's theory of relativity. While the specific scenarios portrayed in the film may be fictionalized for dramatic effect, the underlying scientific concepts of time dilation are rooted in real physics.
Einstein's theory of relativity, specifically the theory of general relativity, describes how gravity affects the curvature of spacetime. According to this theory, massive objects like planets, stars, or black holes can create gravitational fields that cause time to pass at different rates in different regions of spacetime. This effect is known as gravitational time dilation.
In "Interstellar," the crew travels near a massive black hole, where they experience significant time dilation compared to those remaining on Earth. This aspect of the movie is consistent with the predictions of general relativity.
It's important to note that the extreme time dilation depicted in the film, where hours on a planet near the black hole correspond to years on Earth, is an exaggerated scenario. The degree of time dilation experienced in realistic situations depends on the strength of the gravitational field and the relative velocities involved.
While "Interstellar" may take artistic liberties with certain aspects of time dilation for storytelling purposes, the concept itself is firmly grounded in the principles of Einstein's theory of relativity. Time dilation has been experimentally confirmed in various ways, such as through high-precision atomic clocks and the observations of cosmic phenomena.