- #1
b2386
- 35
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Hi guys,
I am in a class in intro physics and am having trouble fully understanding the theory of special relativity. A couple of "apparent" contradictions encountered in my textbook's explanations seem to be throwing me off. (These are based off the famous train example)
Observer 1: on track
Observer 2: on train
1) Observer 1 says that 2's clock goes slow, and observer 2 says that 1's clock goes slow.
2) Observer 1 says that 2's meter sticks are contracted along their direction of relative motion, and observer 2 says that 1's meter sticks are contracted.
These 2 observations seem to be contradictory. Can someone please explain to me why they are not?
I am in a class in intro physics and am having trouble fully understanding the theory of special relativity. A couple of "apparent" contradictions encountered in my textbook's explanations seem to be throwing me off. (These are based off the famous train example)
Observer 1: on track
Observer 2: on train
1) Observer 1 says that 2's clock goes slow, and observer 2 says that 1's clock goes slow.
2) Observer 1 says that 2's meter sticks are contracted along their direction of relative motion, and observer 2 says that 1's meter sticks are contracted.
These 2 observations seem to be contradictory. Can someone please explain to me why they are not?