Exam-style question
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Which of the following best explains why two events that are simultaneous in one inertial frame may not be simultaneous in another?.
- A.The speed of light varies between frames.
- B.The time coordinate transforms differently due to Lorentz transformations.
- C.The observers have different clocks that run at different rates.
- D.The spatial separation of events changes between frames.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- The time coordinate transforms differently due to Lorentz transformations.
Explanation
Why this works
Cause: The Lorentz transformation of the time coordinate. Mechanism: The transformation mixes spatial and temporal components, so a time interval in one frame depends on the spatial separation in that frame.
Effect: Two events that share the same time coordinate in one frame acquire different time coordinates in another. Consequence: Observers in different inertial frames disagree on whether the events are simultaneous.
Common mistake
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