Solving the Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle: Length Contraction & Frame Shifting

In summary, the conversation discusses a horizontal light clock in two frames of reference, K and K', with the important events of a photon being emitted and reflected. The question is about the time it takes for the photon to reach the right mirror in frame K'. One person argues that the time should be ##t_B' = L_0/\gamma(1-v)##, while another source suggests ##t_B' = L_0\gamma(1-v)##, leading to a discrepancy. The difference in reasoning is due to the direction of movement of the light clock, with one person assuming it moves at v and the other assuming it moves at -v. Adjusting for this difference leads to the same answer.
  • #1
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Consider a Horizontal light clock of length ##L_0## lying at rest in a frame K. There are two important events: (A) a photon gets emitted from the left mirror and (B) it gets reflected at the right mirror.
Another frame K' is moving by at velocity v and the frames are in standard configuration such that event (A) is assigned coordinates ##(t_A,x_A) = (t'_A,x'_A) = (0,0)##. Clearly, ##t_B = L_0## (c=1), but now the question is, what is ##t_B'##?

My intuitive reasoning would be as follows: in K' the length of the light clock is contracted to a length of ##L_0/\gamma## and photon has the same velocity c=1. But now the right mirror is moving towards the photon at velocity v, and hence it takes a time
$$t_B' = \frac{L_0}{\gamma (1-v)}$$
for the photon to reach the right mirror.

However, according to
exercise 4 at p. 24 in http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/matnat/astro/AST1100/h14/undervisningsmateriale/lecture7.pdf
the answer should be
$$t_B' = L_0 \gamma(1-v).$$
So, where am I going wrong in my argument?
 
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  • #2
The text says the light clock is moving at v but you said frame K' is moving at v which makes the light clock move at -v. If you change the sign of v in your equation, you will get the same answer.
 

Related to Solving the Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle: Length Contraction & Frame Shifting

1. What is the Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle?

The Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle is a thought experiment that helps explain the concept of length contraction and frame shifting in special relativity. It involves a light clock, which is a hypothetical device that measures time by bouncing a beam of light between two mirrors. The puzzle involves two observers, one stationary and one moving, who see different measurements for the length of the light clock.

2. How does the Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle demonstrate length contraction?

The Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle shows length contraction by demonstrating that the moving observer measures the length of the light clock to be shorter than the stationary observer. This is due to the fact that objects in motion appear shorter in the direction of their motion, as observed by an outside observer.

3. What is frame shifting in the context of the Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle?

Frame shifting refers to the change in perception of events and measurements between two observers in different frames of reference. In the Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle, the moving observer sees the light clock as shorter due to their frame of reference being in motion, while the stationary observer sees the light clock as longer due to their frame of reference being at rest.

4. How does the Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle relate to special relativity?

The Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle is a thought experiment that helps demonstrate the concepts of length contraction and frame shifting, which are key principles in special relativity. It shows that measurements of space and time are relative to the frame of reference of the observer, and that they can be affected by the relative motion between observers.

5. Why is the Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle important in understanding special relativity?

The Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle is important in understanding special relativity because it helps illustrate the fundamental concepts of length contraction and frame shifting, which are essential to understanding the theory. It also highlights the idea that the laws of physics are the same for all observers, regardless of their frame of reference, and that measurements can vary depending on the observer's relative motion.

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