The figure shows a spacetime diagram for two people moving with respect to each

Question

The figure shows a spacetime diagram for two people moving with respect to each other and five events, labelled A through E. The horizontal scale is the x scale, the vertical scale is the t scale, and the tilted axes are the x' and t' scales.

(a) Rank the five marked points according to time for the stationary (in this diagram) observer, earliest first. Use the syntax A-B=C-D-E which would mean A happened first, B at the same time as C, followed by D then E.

(b) Rank the five marked points according to time for the moving (in this diagram) observer.

(c) Rank the five marked points according to position for the stationary observer, from left to right.

(d) Rank the five marked points according to position for the moving observer.

Explanation / Answer

a) For stationary observer , the equal time lines are horizontal... i.e parallel to x axis. .... the smaller the time implies earlier it occured.... so one gets E-D-B=C-A

b)For moving observer , the equal time lines are horizontal to the x' axis ....parallel to x' axis......

so one gets the order as: E-C=D-B-A

c) for stationary observer the equal space lines are perpendicular to the x-axis,,,,, parallel to time axis....so the order

one gets is : A=D-B-C=E

d) equal space lines are parallel to the t' axis for moving observer order: A-B=D-C-E

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