Correct. It's the mechanism of length contraction. Length contraction is a result of the way space and time are measured for a moving object. Just as is time dilation.
Well, regardless of what we measure the lengths to be, the pulses shouldn't be seen as simultaneous. So this is all we would need to check. The length between their detection can then be analyzed later.
Perhaps the "pulse" could be a laser pulse perpendicular to the direction of motion so that any length contraction that may occur wouldn't have to be taken into account to see the simultaneity effect.
Yes, they are intimately related. However, length contraction only occurs in the direction of motion, x. If the laser pulses were in the direction y, then their detection would be at different times in the Earth frame regardless of length contraction.
I'll be honest. To me, it makes no sense for the Earth to detect these pulses at different times. It also doesn't make sense to me that things length contract. Though, I am willing to accept that my sense maybe be nonsense in reality - but I want to see good hard proof first Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Time dilation does make sense to me - that is, I've come up with a quantum level explaination that makes sense to me. But it is not consistent with Special Relativity. Specifically it forbids length contraction.
Oh. I get you now. You mean this: ---> laser | | ----------------> x (motion) | | ---> laser Yes? If so, why would the laser pulses not arrive at earth simultaneously assuming they were directed at the earth?
If we had a normal pulse, that scattered in all directions, then based on our sensors, we'd be able to conclude that an event in the moving frame as simultaneous would be detected simultaneous in the Earth frame. Because we could always just measure the portion of the pulse perpendicular to the motion.
----------------> x | | V V This? Then they just show length contraction which is a result of loss of simultaneity.
OK - if you say so. I hope you are sure about this. As I said - I am always at a loss for what is happening when length contraction is involved.
I fully understood it at the time Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! New ideas and time have an effect on one's understanding though.
