Solving the Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle: Length Contraction & Frame Shifting

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the Horizontal Light Clock Puzzle, specifically analyzing the time taken for a photon to travel between mirrors in two different reference frames, K and K'. In frame K, the light clock has a proper length of ##L_0##, while in frame K', moving at velocity v, the length contracts to ##L_0/\gamma##. The initial reasoning proposed that the time for the photon to reach the right mirror is given by the equation $$t_B' = \frac{L_0}{\gamma (1-v)}$$. However, the correct equation, as referenced from a lecture material, is $$t_B' = L_0 \gamma(1-v)$$, highlighting a misunderstanding regarding the direction of velocity in relation to the moving clock.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of special relativity concepts, including time dilation and length contraction.
  • Familiarity with the Lorentz factor, denoted as ##\gamma##.
  • Basic knowledge of reference frames in physics.
  • Ability to interpret and manipulate equations related to motion and light.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of the Lorentz transformations in special relativity.
  • Learn about the implications of length contraction in different inertial frames.
  • Explore examples of time dilation using moving clocks in various reference frames.
  • Review the provided lecture material to clarify the concepts of event timing in relativistic contexts.
USEFUL FOR

Students and educators in physics, particularly those studying special relativity, as well as anyone interested in understanding the implications of frame shifting and light behavior in relativistic scenarios.

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Consider a Horizontal light clock of length ##L_0## lying at rest in a frame K. There are two important events: (A) a photon gets emitted from the left mirror and (B) it gets reflected at the right mirror.
Another frame K' is moving by at velocity v and the frames are in standard configuration such that event (A) is assigned coordinates ##(t_A,x_A) = (t'_A,x'_A) = (0,0)##. Clearly, ##t_B = L_0## (c=1), but now the question is, what is ##t_B'##?

My intuitive reasoning would be as follows: in K' the length of the light clock is contracted to a length of ##L_0/\gamma## and photon has the same velocity c=1. But now the right mirror is moving towards the photon at velocity v, and hence it takes a time
$$t_B' = \frac{L_0}{\gamma (1-v)}$$
for the photon to reach the right mirror.

However, according to
exercise 4 at p. 24 in http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/matnat/astro/AST1100/h14/undervisningsmateriale/lecture7.pdf
the answer should be
$$t_B' = L_0 \gamma(1-v).$$
So, where am I going wrong in my argument?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The text says the light clock is moving at v but you said frame K' is moving at v which makes the light clock move at -v. If you change the sign of v in your equation, you will get the same answer.
 

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