How Long Does It Take for a Speeding Train to Pass a Stationary Observer?

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a train of length 15cs traveling at a speed of 3c/5, and the original poster seeks to determine the time it takes for the train to pass a stationary observer. The context includes concepts from special relativity, such as time dilation and length contraction.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to solve the problem from both the observer's frame and the train's frame. Some participants question the unit "cs" and its relevance in the context of the problem, while others express uncertainty about the concepts of time dilation and length contraction.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing clarifications about the unit of measurement and referencing external resources related to Lorentz transformations and time dilation. There is no explicit consensus yet, as participants are still exploring the foundational concepts.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of a potential misunderstanding regarding the unit "cs," which is clarified by one participant. Additionally, the original poster indicates a lack of understanding from a previous lecture on time dilation.

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A train of length 15cs moves at speed 3c/5. How much time does it take to a pass a person standing on the ground? [That is, what time elapses on the person's watch between the time when he is next to the front of the train, and the time when he is next to the back of the train?] Solve this by working in the frame of the person, and then again by working in the frame of the train.
 
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Do you know the lorentz transformations? Time dilation and length contraction? I'm not familar with the unit cs (usually would mean a centisecond) in this context.
 
Oh, sorry.

1 cs equals (3 x 10^8 m/s)(1s) = 3 x 10^8 m

Also, I know a little bit about time dilation, though I didn't really understand my professor's lecture very well.
 

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