Question

FIGURE Q36.5 shows Peggy standing at the center of her railroad car as it passes Ryan on the ground. Firecrackers attached to the ends of the car explode. A short time later, the flashes from the two explosions arrive at Peggy at the same time.

a. Were the explosions simultaneous in Peggy’s reference frame? If not, which exploded first? Explain.

b. Were the explosions simultaneous in Ryan’s reference frame?

Short answer

a. The explosion simultaneously in Peggy's reference frame.

b. The Left explosion occur first then right explosion will occur.

Step-by-step solution

Part (a) Step 1: Given information.

We have given,

Peggy standing at the center of her railroad car as it passes Ryan on the ground.

The flashes from the two explosions arrive at Peggy at the same time.

We have to find that explosion are simultaneous or not in Peggy's given reference frame.

Simplify

The explosion frame and the observe frame of the Peggy's is same then there will be no time delay in this two event.

Since the distance between the two events are same for the Peggy and the velocity are same then there time taken will be same.

Then we can say Peggy will observe both event simultaneously.

Part (b) Step 1: Given information.

We have given,

Peggy standing at the center of her railroad car as it passes Ryan on the ground.

he flashes from the two explosions arrive at Peggy at the same time.

We have to find the is this explosion are simultaneous or not in Ryan's reference frame.

Simplify

Ryan will be agree about the flashes reach Peggy simultaneously because their arrivals could be measured with detectors.

In Ryan’s frame, Peggy is moving away from the point in space where right one exploded, and toward right explosion.

Then Ryan will observe that , left explorer had to explode first if the light waves from there have to reach Peggy at the same instant as light waves from right Exposer.

Then we can say for Ryan the left explosion will occur first.