The Time Difference Between Clocks in Different Frames
Understanding Time Difference Between Clocks in Different Frames
Suppose you are in a car traveling on a horizontal road at 25 m/s. As you pass a bus stop, your clock and a clock at the bus stop both read zero. You then pass another a bus stop 800 m farther down the road. Assume that in the reference frame of the bus stops, all the bus stop clocks are synchronized.
(a) Time Comparison at the Second Bus Stop
As you pass the second bus stop, do you find that its clock is ahead of your clock, behind it, or still the same time?
(b) Calculation of Time Difference
If the clock at the second bus stop is behind or ahead of your clock, calculate the time difference.
Final answer: In the reference frame of the bus stops, the clock at the second bus stop will be behind your clock and the time difference can be calculated using distance divided by speed.
Explanation: In the reference frame of the bus stops, all the bus stop clocks are synchronized. As you pass the second bus stop, you will find that its clock is behind your clock. The time difference can be calculated using the equation time difference = distance / speed. In this case, the distance is 800m and the speed is 25m/s, so the time difference would be 32 seconds.
B3. [5] Suppose you are in a car traveling on a horizontal road at 25 m/s. As you pass a bus stop, your clock and a clock at the bus stop both read zero. You then pass another a bus stop 800 m farther down the road. Assume that in the reference frame of the bus stops, all the bus stop clocks are synchronized. (a) As you pass the second bus stop, do you find that its clock is ahead of your clock, or behind it? Or do they read the same time still? (b) If its clock is behind or ahead of your clock, then calculate this time difference. In the reference frame of the bus stops, the clock at the second bus stop will be behind your clock and the time difference can be calculated using distance divided by speed.