Speed of light for different observers

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the principles of Special Relativity, specifically focusing on the speed of light as perceived by different observers. Participants explore a thought experiment involving light emitted from a moving train-car and its implications for understanding light's speed and frequency in various frames of reference.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes a thought experiment involving a moving train-car with a light source and multiple observers to illustrate how light's speed and frequency may appear different to observers in different frames of reference.
  • Another participant challenges the clarity of the thought experiment and suggests drawing spacetime diagrams to analyze the situation from different frames, questioning whether the speed of light would be calculated as different in each frame.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the original proposal, labeling it as nonsensical and urging others to disregard it.
  • A participant defends their experiment by comparing it to the Michelson-Morley experiment, asserting that it should not require the same level of scrutiny as suggested by others.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus in the discussion. Some participants support the exploration of the thought experiment, while others dismiss it as flawed or misguided. The question of whether the speed of light is the same for all observers remains contested.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of understanding and respect for each other's contributions, with some suggesting that the original experiment lacks sufficient detail or clarity. The discussion includes references to established experiments like Michelson-Morley, but does not resolve the underlying questions about light's speed and frequency.

  • #61
sisoev said:
This "home work" just shows how deceived people are about wave length and wave frequency.
600 nm in the "home work" is the wave length and it never changes.
:rolleyes:
The frequency is measured in Hz and it depends on the speed of the light - how fast the wave length is observed, and that depends on the additional speed added to it by the moving source or moving observer.
That's not even true for the classical Doppler effect for sound when the source is moving, never mind for light! When a sound source approaches, the observed frequency increases--yet the speed of the sound doesn't change.

When we observer different frequency, we must be able to calculate the wave length (which never changes), but that is impossible without knowing the velocity and add it to the speed of the light.
I already pointed to this in my previous comment but you chose not to comment on it.
You're wrong, as I've said repeatedly.

I still have my last comment coming.
Please read the sticky at the top of this forum--the one titled "IMPORTANT! Read before posting". In part, it says:
This forum is meant as a place to discuss the Theory of Relativity and is for the benefit of those who wish to learn about or expand their understanding of said theory. It is not meant as a soapbox for those who wish to argue Relativity's validity, or advertise their own personal theories.​
You don't seem to be interested in learning about relativity, just in discussing your own personal interpretation. You've had your time. This thread is done.
 

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