Classroom Aid - Simultaneity lost xx

[workingTchr]

Very clear. Thank you. If you could show how the loss of simultaneity implies that we live in a block universe (as a BBC video suggested), that I'd really like to see.

[rakeshgorrepati]

Thanks a Ton for the Video. I was confused about this before and was watching many videos but couldn't understand it until this one.. :) Cheers ..!!

[alchemy]

Are you sure you are describing this correctly?

Below is the correct version.
To the guy on the ground both strikes happen at the same time for him.
To the guy on the train both strikes happen at the same time for him.

To the guy on the ground both strikes does not happen at the same for the guy on the train.
To the guy on the train both strikes does not happen at the same time for the guy on the ground.

[1:10] "because the person on train is moving in the direction of the front lightening strike, (…) therefore it reaches him first". OK, but what is the difference with the classical (Newtonian) mechanics explanation ?

[chrisb]

Hi David. Trying to wrap my brain around something. Does it matter whether the light originated from the train's reference point or outside of it? For example, I've seen similar illustrations where the light isn't external lightning but light poles attached to the front and back. Seems to me that for this case the light should reach the passenger at the same time - just as a ball thrown at equal speeds from the front and back would. (in an enclosed environment) Am I missing something?

[robertbrandywine]

I have good logic, but it seems to me that the key to understanding the theory of relativity requires visualizing ability more than logic.