Re: relativity of simultaneity


"gsax" <gaurav_iitg@xxxxxxxxx> schrieb
> I am newbie to relativity..
> I have a question regarding simultaniety..
>
> If the Happeninng of an Event C( say lighting of a bulb), depended
> upon whether or not two events A & B occur simultaneously,...then does
> C happen or not ( since simultaneity is relative)..
>
> Let's say in frame 1, A & B occur simultaneously, then C happens ( The
> bulb lights up)..
>
> Also let's say in frame 2, A & B do not happen simultaneously, then C
> does not happen ( THe bulb does not light up)..
>
> But either the bulb lights up, or it does not,.. which is it?

Either it lights up, or it does not. This does not depend on the observer.
Therefore, it is impossible (if relativity is true) to construct such a
light
bulb.

What is possible is a light bulb which lights up if A and B are simultaneous
in some fixed frame 1. In this case, the observer of frame 2 can look at
the light bulb and conclude "in frame 1 A and B are simultaneous".

I recommend you to remember that the "measurement of simultaneity" is a
rather artificial procedure. To call this measurement a "measurement of
simultaneity" is a rather artificial decision which leads to confusion. It
seems more reasonable to forget about simultaneity: We simply cannot measure
classical (absolute) simultaneity in a world where the time measured by
clocks depends on their path.

Ilja


.

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