1.) A spaceship flies by Earth at high speed. An observer on Earth notices a fla
ID: 1637816 • Letter: 1
Question
1.) A spaceship flies by Earth at high speed. An observer on Earth notices a flash of light at the front of the spaceship slightly after a flash of light at the back of the spaceship. An observer aboard the spaceship observes:
a) the flashes are simultaneous b) the front flashes earlier c) the back flashes earlier d) more info is needed to determine
2.) An observer on Earth notices that the front and back lights on a high speed spaceship that flies by Earth both flash at exactly the same moment. According to an observer on the spaceship:
a) the flashes are simultaneous b) the front flashes earlier c) the back flashes earlier d) more info is needed to determine
Explanation / Answer
Two events that are simultaneous in one frame of reference need not be simultaneous in a frame moving relative to the first frame.
For an observer on esrth the light is not travelling equal distances as the spaceship is moving forward.
1. a) The flashes are simultaneous because for an observer on earth the speed of the spaceship will come into account but that will not be the case for an observer in the spaceship and hence he will observe simultaneous flashes.In this case the flash travels equally to reach the front and the back for an observer in the spaceship.
2.b) The front flashes earlier. Had the flashes be simultaneous the observer on earth would have noticed the flash at the back first. In this case the observer on earth notices simultaneous flashes which means the front has to flash earlier for an observer on the spaceship.
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