PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Relativity & Gravitation · Special relativity: spacetime and kinematics · Special relativity: spacetime and kinematics
Relativity and Gravitation, Ch Time dilation, length contraction and simultaneity
Problem
Two space stations A and B are at rest in the frame S, a distance 6.00 light-minutes apart as measured in S. A shuttle flies from A to B at constant speed v=0.600c along the line joining them; its rest frame S′ is in standard configuration with S. The two events are E1: the shuttle passes station A, and E2: the shuttle passes station B. The station clocks are synchronised in S; the shuttle carries one clock. Ignore any gravity and any acceleration at the ends of the trip. A student argues: “In the shuttle frame the station clocks run slow, so the shuttle clock must record more time between E1 and E2 than the stations do: 10.0 minutes measured by the stations becomes 1.25×10.0=12.5 minutes on the shuttle.”
((a)) Find the time between E1 and E2 measured in S.
((b)) Find the time between E1 and E2 read by the shuttle's own clock. State which clock reads the proper time between E1 and E2, and where the student's argument fails.