Einstein Thought Experiment help (1 Viewer)

[weirddivine]

can anyone answer this question from a past CSSA physics trial.

"Observer A sits in the middle of a train traveling at high speed past a railway station. Observer b stands on the station platform Lighting strikes the front and back of the train at the moment when observer A passes observer B. analyse the statements of both observers regarding the order of the lightning strikes.

 

[untouchablecuz]

can anyone answer this question from a past CSSA physics trial.

"Observer A sits in the middle of a train traveling at high speed past a railway station. Observer b stands on the station platform Lighting strikes the front and back of the train at the moment when observer A passes observer B. analyse the statements of both observers regarding the order of the lightning strikes.

When objects in coordinate space are seperated by a distance, events cease to be detected simultaneously by these objects. Hence, simultaneity is a relative concept.

The apparently simultaneous event of the lightning strike will be detected at different time intervals by each observor. Because the observor A is moving towards the lightning strike at the front, this will appear to occur first (in his reference frame). For observor B however, because they are stationary, the lightning strikes will appear to occur simultaneously.

edited

 

[weirddivine]

ahh thank you very much

 

[untouchablecuz]

ah yes your right

i assumed the lightning strikes were ON the train (like, concentrated clouds at each end of the train)

 

[untouchablecuz]

lol yer

realising that now

i fail on all levels

 

[youngminii]

It's okay untouchablecuz
Hey but these questions are usually 4-5 marks, what would you need to write to get all the marks?