Special relativity and simultaneity: Spacecraft and Target

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on a thought experiment involving a spacecraft moving at speed v and two targets spaced L apart. The key question is whether there exists a frame where both targets are hit simultaneously when the spacecraft passes them. The conclusion reached is that no such frame exists, as the Lorentz transformation indicates that simultaneity is lost in different reference frames. It is clarified that the proper distance between the targets remains L, while the contracted distance observed from the spacecraft is L_c = L/γ, leading to a time delay in hitting the second target. Ultimately, the simultaneity assumption in the problem is deemed incorrect.
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Homework Statement
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Relevant Equations
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I made an exercise whose question is like that:

A spacecraft moves with speed v at the axis x. There are two target at the axis x, in which the distance between them is L at the ground frame. Suppose that the spacecraft shoot the target simultaneously when it passes by the target. A|so, neglect the time between the spacecraft shoot and the hit of the target. Is there a frame in which both targets are hitted simultaneously? If yes, what is the velocity of the frame?

Now, i have found an answer that i am 99% sure is wrong, but just want to make sure and, also, would like to know the speed of this frame for both hits simultaneously:

I have decided to name two events:
Event A: Spacecraft passes the first target/hit the first target.
Event B: Spacecraft passes the second target/hit the second target.

Using lorentz transformation, $$\Delta t' = \gamma ' (\Delta t - \beta' \Delta x) = \gamma ' (\Delta t - \beta' v \Delta t) = 0$$
$$\implies$$
$$1 - v'v = 0, v<1 \implies v'>1$$

So there are no frame in which the target are hitted simultaneously.

I am aware of the lost of simultaneously, so i am sure i am wrong because probably in the frame S' the missle is not fired and wouldn't hit the target at the same time the spacecraft passes the target.

But the problem i am having is to understand how could i find the velocity of S' without i know the missle speed? Someone can help me?
 
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Herculi said:
Homework Statement:: .
Relevant Equations:: .

So there are no frame in which the target are hitted simultaneously.
Surely. If there were such a frame, there must be two same rockets in that frame.
 
Last edited:
Herculi said:
Homework Statement:: .
Relevant Equations:: .

Suppose that the spacecraft shoot the target simultaneously when it passes by the target. A|so, neglect the time between the spacecraft shoot and the hit of the target. Is there a frame in which both targets are hitted simultaneously?
This supposition is wrong. The proper distance between the targets is L; the contracted distance, wrt the spacecraft , is## L_c=L/\gamma##, thus it takes the proper time ##\tau={L_c/v}## for the spacecraft to go from the first to the second target.
 
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