- #1
helpmeplz!
- 27
- 1
Hi guys, I've been thinking about this experiment for the last few hours and I have a few questions which I am deeply confused about.
1) In the light clock experiment, where light clock is set up so that light travels vertically, and the train carrying the clock travels horizontally, wouldn't there be length contraction? For a stationary observe outside the train that sees this train moving, he would conclude that since the light has to move a greater distance between the two mirrors, then the actual space and all objects have grown in size? I know this is not true, since lengths only shrink and they only shrink in the direction of motion, but what is wrong with my reasoning? If you say the only reason the distance is longer is because the train is moving horizontally, why is that reasoning enough to talk your way out of length changes but not of time dilation?
2) In the muon experiment, where muons fall to Earth before decaying, the explanation is that in the Earth's reference point, it's at rest and the muon is moving towards it at close to speed of light, therefore it's clock runs slower and so it makes it to Earth on time before decaying. However in the muon's reference frame, it's stationary and the Earth rushes up to meet it. And so the explanation of why it's able to hit the Earth on time is that the space between it and the Earth shrinks. But would it be correct to say that the space between Earth and the muon would shrink in Earth's reference frame too? So the muon would appear smaller in size to someone on Earth than if it was stationary?
3) In the same muon experiment, if we placed a light clock that shoots light parallel to Earth's velocity, then we would see that the light would travel a shorter distance in its route, since it would go towards the higher mirror just the same distance, but it only has to come down a short distance as the Earth comes up to meet it. But we also know from relativity that the observer has to see time in the train slowed down since it is stationary and the train is moving. But if the length has shrunk, then the light has to go a slower distance, so it would take less time between ticks..meaning time has sped up? Where am i going wrong?
Thanks in advance guys!
1) In the light clock experiment, where light clock is set up so that light travels vertically, and the train carrying the clock travels horizontally, wouldn't there be length contraction? For a stationary observe outside the train that sees this train moving, he would conclude that since the light has to move a greater distance between the two mirrors, then the actual space and all objects have grown in size? I know this is not true, since lengths only shrink and they only shrink in the direction of motion, but what is wrong with my reasoning? If you say the only reason the distance is longer is because the train is moving horizontally, why is that reasoning enough to talk your way out of length changes but not of time dilation?
2) In the muon experiment, where muons fall to Earth before decaying, the explanation is that in the Earth's reference point, it's at rest and the muon is moving towards it at close to speed of light, therefore it's clock runs slower and so it makes it to Earth on time before decaying. However in the muon's reference frame, it's stationary and the Earth rushes up to meet it. And so the explanation of why it's able to hit the Earth on time is that the space between it and the Earth shrinks. But would it be correct to say that the space between Earth and the muon would shrink in Earth's reference frame too? So the muon would appear smaller in size to someone on Earth than if it was stationary?
3) In the same muon experiment, if we placed a light clock that shoots light parallel to Earth's velocity, then we would see that the light would travel a shorter distance in its route, since it would go towards the higher mirror just the same distance, but it only has to come down a short distance as the Earth comes up to meet it. But we also know from relativity that the observer has to see time in the train slowed down since it is stationary and the train is moving. But if the length has shrunk, then the light has to go a slower distance, so it would take less time between ticks..meaning time has sped up? Where am i going wrong?
Thanks in advance guys!