Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: carenot
HUH????!!!!!!

Simply put, the light pulse traces out different paths for each of the two observers. The one riding along with the clock sees it simply move straight up and down, while the observer on the sidelines watching the apparatus moving past him sees it trace out a diagonal, and therefore *longer*, path. Since light travels at the same speed for every observer, the light pulse MUST then take a longer time to travel the longer (diagonal) path (as seen from the point of view of the observer on the sidelines). Or "moving clocks tick more slowly than stationary ones".

16 posted on 04/12/2010 9:37:40 PM PDT by ETL (ALL (most?) of the Obama-commie connections at my FR Home page: http://www.freerepublic.com/~etl/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies ]


To: ETL

What if the speed of light is not a constant?


21 posted on 04/12/2010 9:57:03 PM PDT by Lorianne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson