Science Forums 2

[geistkiesel]

Originally Posted by Damo2600

Hi guys,

I know this is a long post but this is my conclusion on The Theory of
Relativity which you don't have to read.



The Theory of Special Relativity for the Totally Confused Beginner

By Josephine Sage



Chapter 1 - What is the Theory of Special Relativity

Damo2600, Has it ocured to you there are some in this forum with the assigned task of defending Special relativity Theory? I had a dream last night that this is exactly what has happened. I really enjoy the attention don't you?

Here is one for you to consider:

1.There is a train 300,000 km long moving at 1/2 the speed of light with a target located on the front end.
On the embankment there is a light source with a target 300,000 km away. Just as the rear of the train is alongside the light source on the embankment a pulse of light is emitted in the direction of both targets.

Special relativity tells us the laws of physics are applied the same on both reference frames. The light will reach the target on the embankment in one second during which time the forward end of the train is 450,000 km from the original light source.

The embankment observer sees the moving frame light moving at c, the same speed has his light

By the time the light reaches the embankment target the moving target is long past the embankment target, meaning the light must move very much faster in orde to reach the train target in one second. Thus we have two sets of physical laws to manipulate.

The SRTists will cry foul and scream Lorentz contraction, but will this cure the contradiction?
(I picked up the numbering system from your example!!! Have we bonded yet? If so and we are truly as "one", then why do I feel so all alone?)

2. Let us assume the train is one continuous piece, one car. Further let us assume the train is open on both ends except for the target attached with a thin thread hanging from the ceiling of the train. Let us make the train, a circular piece of .0001mm thick tissue paper 100,000 km in diameter by 300,000 km long with the sorce of the light beam at the center of the rear opening . The observer on the stationary frame, the embankment sees the light arriving at his target in one second and sees the light in the train moving at the same speed of light, the same as his light beam. Will lorentz contraction be imposed on the tissue paper train, regarding the time of arrival of the light at the moving source?


Can you make any SRT calculations showing what the arrival times of the train centered light beam will make compared to the arrival time of the photon at the traget on the embankment? Will the light s arrive at both targets as observed by the stationary observer? After all she sees the light speed as c chasing the moving target moving at 1/2c.

3. What if we take the train using standard dimensions and use it to cover the embankment arrangement. The train is at rest wrt the embankment. Now the moving target is still connected to a high-tech frame, a 1 cubic millimeter in volume rocket-powered-uniform-motion-gadget with a thin thread attached to the target is moving at 1/2 c and is located at 300,000 km from the source of the emitted light which is emitted simultaneously with the light in the stationary embankment frame. The light reaches the target on the embankment in 1 second, during which time the light is chasing the moving target is also movng at c. From the stationary frame the light chasing the moving target must move at the same speed the light moves wrt the moving target, so in order to reach the moving target the light chasing the target must move very much faster, wait a minute, did I just contradict myself? Golly wolly pogs, how could Ihave done that? Let em run some numbersw and i'll get back to you. My numbers check out but Idon't want to dicuss the matter further. I have to go meditate on my "counter intuitivity'.
Does, or can, Lorentz contraction save the SR theory here? I sure hope so, otherwise I think both of us are in deeeeeep trouble.

geistkiesel