Friday, June 17, 2016

Relativity: stationary vs moving


In the book The Elegant Universe, Greene describes a situation in which there are two space travelers, George and Gracie, moving in relationship towards each other at a constant velocity with no other available vantage points. Both George and Gracie have an equal right to declare that they are stationary and that the other is moving.From George's perspective, he is stationary while Gracie is moving and he observes (consequently? not sure this is direct consequence) her clock to tick slower than his. However, doesn't George also have the right to claim/perceive himself as the one who is in motion, and if so wouldn't he perceive Gracie's clock to tick faster than his? This seems to contradict the first perception. How would contradicting perceptions be available to the same observer? I assume I'm off somewhere.




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