Is the Light Clock Calibration the Key to Understanding Relativity?

[DAC]

Calculate how long it takes for a horizontal clock to tick given its length L and speed v.

Calculate how long it takes for a horizontal clock to tick given its length L and speed v.

Time is distance over c. And distance in this case is the length of the clock plus the distance it has moved. Or for the return leg, less the distance moved.
So if the distance between mirrors is, say, one metre, and the train/clock advances 0.1 metres, the distance the light travels is 1.1 metres, divided by c gives the clock tick over time. Or 0.9metres divided by c for the return leg. I don't see what this proves other than the there and back leg is 2 metres, which is the same as the stationary frame

 

[Dale]

Time is distance over c. And distance in this case is the length of the clock plus the distance it has moved. Or for the return leg, less the distance moved.

Write it out algebraically, in terms of $L$ and $v$. What does $L$ have to be in order for the horizontal clock to tick in sync with a vertical clock of length $L_0$ ?

So if the distance between mirrors is, say, one metre, and the train/clock advances 0.1 metres, the distance the light travels is 1.1 metres, divided by c gives the clock tick over time. Or 0.9metres divided by c for the return leg. I don't see what this proves other than the there and back leg is 2 metres, which is the same as the stationary frame

Is that so? Are you sure about it? How did you determine that? What speed would lead to a 1.1 m trip out and a .9 m trip back?

 

[DAC]

Write it out algebraically, in terms of $L$ and $v$. What does $L$ have to be in order for the horizontal clock to tick in sync with a vertical clock of length $L_0$ ?Is that so? Are you sure about it? How did you determine that? What speed would lead to a 1.1 m trip out and a .9 m trip back?

Write it out algebraically, in terms of $L$ and $v$. What does $L$ have to be in order for the horizontal clock to tick in sync with a vertical clock of length $L_0$ ?Is that so? Are you sure about it? How did you determine that? What speed would lead to a 1.1 m trip out and a .9 m trip back?

OK you win, anyway don't you guys provide answers rather than questions. Keep up the good work.

 

[Nugatory]

And on that note I think we can close the thread