Time dilation flashlight problem

[JesseM]

Well, hopefully you understand that moving the spatial origin is completely irrelevant if we are trying to find the spatial distances or time intervals between events (in coordinate terms or absolute terms), so that change is totally trivial. But if T=0 was meant to be absolute time, in that case there is no way to solve your problem with the information given, because then we don't know the coordinate time interval between the light emission and the separation of A,B,C, nor do we know the absolute distance between them or the absolute velocities of A,B,C.

 

[Physicist1231]

Well, hopefully you understand that moving the spatial origin is completely irrelevant if we are trying to find the spatial distances or time intervals between events (in coordinate terms or absolute terms), so that change is totally trivial. But if T=0 was meant to be absolute time, in that case there is no way to solve your problem with the information given, because then we don't know the coordinate time interval between the light emission and the separation of A,B,C, nor do we know the absolute distance between them or the absolute velocities of A,B,C.

Absolutly we could. Let's assume (just assume) that there is Absolute time and Absolute space (thus absolute velocities as well)

If the light source was at absolute rest at 0,0,0 and all three bodies are at 20ls,0,0 at the absolute T=0.

At T=0 absolute time the light is emitted and the bodies assume their respective velocities. we will find that light hits

A at T=20s and 20ls,0,0

B at T=40s and 40ls,0,0

C at T=T=23.09401077s and 20ls,11.547ls,0

This would be in the absolute time and space coords. Now still using Newtonian physics you can determine the absolute time that A perceives that B and C see the light.

According to A, B saw the light at the absolute T=60s (the time it took from the light source to hit B and back to A) at coord 20ls,0,0 (relative to A)

According to A, C saw the light at the absolute T=34.6***ls. and at the point 0,11.547ls,0 (relative to A)


B would have a different view on when in absolute time the events happened as well. So would C.

If anything using Absolute time and Spacial assumptions makes the math not only easier to comprehend but still explain why bodies in motion see things at different times and possibly different orders.

 

[JesseM]

Absolutly we could. Let's assume (just assume) that there is Absolute time and Absolute space (thus absolute velocities as well)

If the light source was at absolute rest at 0,0,0

Now you're changing the conditions! Of course if you specify that the frame in which A is at rest (the one where A's position coordinates don't change with time) is the absolute frame, then the problem is solveable. But there was nothing to indicate that in your original explanation.

At T=0 absolute time the light is emitted and the bodies assume their respective velocities. we will find that light hits

A at T=20s and 20ls,0,0

B at T=40s and 40ls,0,0

C at T=T=23.09401077s and 20ls,11.547ls,0

This would be in the absolute time and space coords. Now still using Newtonian physics you can determine the absolute time that A perceives that B and C see the light.

According to A, B saw the light at the absolute T=60s (the time it took from the light source to hit B and back to A) at coord 20ls,0,0 (relative to A)

Your use of the phrase "according to A" is a little confusing--normally that phrase means "the coordinate time in A's rest frame when the event happened", not the time that A saw the light from the event. But yes, A will see the light from the event of B receiving the light (perhaps B signals this by waving a flag) at T=60s.

B would have a different view on when in absolute time the events happened as well. So would C.

How can B have a different view on when in absolute time events happened? Absolute time is independent of the observer, by definition. Do you just mean the time that B sees the light from different events will be different? i.e. B agrees that the light reached C at an absolute time of T=23.09401077s, but the time that B sees the light from this event is different from the time that A sees the light from this event?

If anything using Absolute time and Spacial assumptions makes the math not only easier to comprehend but still explain why bodies in motion see things at different times and possibly different orders.

I don't think that's true, the math is exactly the same if you just assume we're calculating things in A's frame without worrying about absolute space and time. The problem with the notion of absolute space and time is that it obscures the complete physical symmetry between the way the laws of physics work in different frames, and the fact that even if absolutes space & time existed it would be totally impossible to determine which frame was the absolute one by any physical experiment.