Clock of Observers: Who Sees Whose Clock Running Slower?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relativistic effects of time dilation as perceived by three observers: A on Earth, B in a fast-moving car, and C positioned far away in space. Participants explore how each observer perceives the clocks of the others, particularly focusing on who sees whose clock running slower.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that A sees B's clock running slower, and B sees A's clock running slower, though the nature of this observation is questioned.
  • One participant suggests that C will see both A's and B's clocks running slower, but questions arise regarding which clock appears slower to C.
  • Another participant emphasizes the need to specify C's velocity relative to A and B to address the questions accurately, noting that C cannot be at rest relative to both A and B simultaneously.
  • There is a discussion about the distinction between visual contact and the relativistic effects of time dilation, with some arguing that the effects are not directly observable without considering frame transformations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the specifics of who sees whose clock running slower, and there are competing views regarding the implications of C's position and motion relative to A and B.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the unspecified velocity of C relative to A and B, and the potential confusion between visual observations and relativistic effects that depend on frame transformations.

Hepic
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We have three observers. The A is in earth,B is into a car that runs with big speed,C is out of galaxy.

All observesr see that their clock runs normal. A will see that clock of B run slower,and B will see the same for A.

1)
Logically, C will see A's and B's clock run slower from his clock,but which clock will run slower? A's or B's (I think A's,because has more speed,I am right?)

2)
And from the opposite,who from both(A,B) will see C's clock run slower?(I think again A,due of speed).

I am correct to 1) and 2)


Thanks!
 
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What do you mean by 'see' in this

A will see that clock of B run slower,and B will see the same for A.

If you mean 'by visual contact', then clocks moving away appear slower and approaching clocks appear faster.
 
That for observer A,clock of B run slower,and for B,clock of A run slower from his clock.
 
Hepic said:
That for observer A,clock of B run slower,and for B,clock of A run slower from his clock.
Sure, but this is not a directly observable physical effect. It appears when either time is converted from its rest frame coordinates to the moving frame coordinates.
 
Hepic said:
We have three observers. The A is in earth,B is into a car that runs with big speed,C is out of galaxy.

You still have to specify C's velocity relative to the other two before we can answer the question. Just because he's a looooong ways away doesn't mean he cannot be at rest relative to one, the other, or neither.
(In special relativity, that is. In the general relativity case, we have to be a lot more careful about specifying C's state of motion).

You may be on your way to (re)discovering the "Andromeda paradox".
 
C is standing about A and B.
 
What does that mean?
 
Hepic said:
C is standing about A and B.

C cannot be at rest relative to both A and B. They're moving relative to one another, so anything at rest relative to one is moving relative to the other.
 

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