Time Dilation/Length Contraction Question?

[lee_sarah76]

Homework Statement

A meter stick moves parallel to its length with speed v = 0.6c relative to you.

a. Compute the length of the stick measured by you.
b. How long does it take for the stick to pass you?

Homework Equations

t = t_o*γ
L = L_o/γ

The Attempt at a Solution

Part a was easy enough, simply using 1m for L_o and v = 0.6c to get a contracted length of 0.8m.

Part b, perhaps I'm overcomplicating things, but is it as simple as using the proper time as t_o = d/r = 1/0.6c and then using the time dilation formula?

Or instead is it simply the contracted length divided by the speed?

 

[Simon Bridge]

You are over complicating things.
How would you normally work out how fast something is going to pass you?
You take it's length, as measured by you, divided by it's speed.
Which would be the last one.

The length is only contracted or different when compared with some other observer's measurement.
Everything involving only stuff you measure works the same as normal.