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simple relativity question

Name: Anonymous 2006-08-09 21:45

two people are on a train, they will set their clock, on opposite ends of the train, to 12:00 when a flash is seen emitted from a bulb at the centre of the train, equidistant from each person. An observer watches from a platform, and says that the two events of setting the clock were NOT simultaneous while another observer says that they were. Since each viewpoint is equally valid, when the the people step off the train, what will their clocks actually read? is there a discrepancy or not?

Name: Anonymous 2006-08-16 20:11

>>13

It is about observation.  Now, I agree, in the stationary reference frame, the clocks are actually set at different times.  But this means nothing for the clocks themselves, since they aren't in the stationary frame.  To the stationary observer, the clocks are set at different times, but to the clocks themselves, they are set at the same time.  So the clocks will always show the same time.

Again, I have no idea what would happen while the train slows to a stop so the clocks and the observer would be in the same frame.  But after it slows to a stop, the clocks still show the same time because both clocks are in the same reference frame the whole time.

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