The fact that all observers measure the same speed for any light signal (passing through a vacuum) can be used to derive the Lorentz transformation rules in various ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consider a flashlight or laser pointer shining from the crow’s nest at the top of a ship’s mast down to a point on the deck right at the base of the mast<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If each observer measures time using a clock whose ticks are triggered by the reflection of a light pulse back and forth between two reflecting plates<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The condition that the position of the light signal is given by the same formula in terms of either observer’s coordinates<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The fact that all observers measure the same speed for any light signal (passing through a vacuum) can be used to derive the Lorentz transformation rules in various ways. The Ship’s Mast Consider a flashlight or laser pointer shining from … Continue reading