- #1
flatearther
- 9
- 0
I'm having a bit of trouble with the famous light clock example, where the photon bounces between 2 mirrors and the light clock is moving laterally across my view.
The description is that I see the photon's path longer (spread out) and so it should take longer to travel between ticks.
The answer about time slowing down for the moving clock (relative to me) makes sense.
But, what if the clock is moving toward me rather than laterally, and we measure only the trip from the mirror closer to me to the further mirror.
I see that path as shortened, not lengthened (because the clock is moving toward me), but according to SR the clock's time is still slowed down (moving clocks run slow).
Shorter path + slower time = photon speed measured greater than c.
This is a 'gut feeling' thing for me - I can follow the maths in the examples and sure, it all works.
But I can't see the answer to the above scenario.
Help?
The description is that I see the photon's path longer (spread out) and so it should take longer to travel between ticks.
The answer about time slowing down for the moving clock (relative to me) makes sense.
But, what if the clock is moving toward me rather than laterally, and we measure only the trip from the mirror closer to me to the further mirror.
I see that path as shortened, not lengthened (because the clock is moving toward me), but according to SR the clock's time is still slowed down (moving clocks run slow).
Shorter path + slower time = photon speed measured greater than c.
This is a 'gut feeling' thing for me - I can follow the maths in the examples and sure, it all works.
But I can't see the answer to the above scenario.
Help?