What is the World Line Diagram for Light Pulses in Two Frames?

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AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the temporal and spatial separation of light pulses received by an observer in a moving frame. A light source emits pulses at intervals of τ in the stationary O frame, while an observer in the O' frame, moving at velocity v, measures these pulses. The world line diagram illustrates the receipt of two consecutive pulses, showing that the temporal separation is (cτ)/(c-v) and the spatial separation is (cτv)/(c-v). Participants confirm the correctness of the diagram and the method for finding the intersection points of the light and observer's world lines. The calculations and visual representation help clarify the relationship between the two frames.
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Homework Statement


A light source at the origin of the O frame emits short pulses of light in interval of \tau as measured in O. An observer located at the origin of the O' frame which moves at velocity v with respect to O along the x-axis, receives these light pulses.
Use a world line diagram to show the receipt of two consecutive pulses as measured in O if the first is emitted when the frame origins coincide. Show that measured in O the pulses are received at the origin of O' with the temporal separation of (c\tau)/(c-v) and spatial separation of (c\tauv)/(c-v).


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


The pulses of light travel at velocity c
The receiver travels at velocity v
I have drawn the world line (t-x plot) and I'm pretty sure it's Δt and Δx i need to calculate but I'm not sure how to go about it.
http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/4083/z559.png
 
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Your diagram looks good. Now you're trying to find where the two lines intersect. This is just like what you did in algebra class, except this time the variables are x and t instead of x and y.

Start by figuring out the equations for the two lines.
 
I didn't realize it would be so simple, thanks a lot for the help. It worked out perfectly.
 
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