roomie10
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SR explains how light travels longer for an observer outside the train when it's shot vertically upwards.
If the distance between the light source and the mirror on the ceiling is L and the train moves to the right at c/2,
the light travels 2L for the observer inside the train but sqrt(5)L for the observer outside the train for the roundtrip.
Since c is the same for both, it takes 2L/c for the observer inside and sqrt(5)L/c for the observer outside.
Time for the observer outside flows faster.
Now, when light is shot vertically toward the ceiling but at an angle to the left, say arctan(0.5), and the mirror on the ceiling is moved accordingly to the left to reflect the light correctly, the light travels sqrt(5)L for the observer inside the train but 2L for the observer outside for the roundtrip.
Since c is the same for both, it takes sqrt(5)L/c for the observer inside and 2L/c for the observer outside.
Time for the observer inside flows faster
What am I missing here?
If the distance between the light source and the mirror on the ceiling is L and the train moves to the right at c/2,
the light travels 2L for the observer inside the train but sqrt(5)L for the observer outside the train for the roundtrip.
Since c is the same for both, it takes 2L/c for the observer inside and sqrt(5)L/c for the observer outside.
Time for the observer outside flows faster.
Now, when light is shot vertically toward the ceiling but at an angle to the left, say arctan(0.5), and the mirror on the ceiling is moved accordingly to the left to reflect the light correctly, the light travels sqrt(5)L for the observer inside the train but 2L for the observer outside for the roundtrip.
Since c is the same for both, it takes sqrt(5)L/c for the observer inside and 2L/c for the observer outside.
Time for the observer inside flows faster
What am I missing here?