A super train is moving along a track at a speed close to the speed of light.You are watching the train from the ground.You observe lightning to strike in two places along the track,a mile apart,at precisely the same time.What would someone on the train say?
A)The two bolts of lightning struck at different times,and they struck at places that are more than a mile apart.
B)The two bolts of lightning struck at the same time,and they struck at places that are less than a mile apart.
C)The two bolts of lightning struck at different times,and they struck at places that are precisely a mile apart.
D)The two bolts of lightning struck at different times,and they struck at places that are less than a mile apart.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the theory of relativity, observers moving at different velocities may perceive the timing and spacing of events differently. Someone on the train, moving at a speed close to the speed of light, would observe the lightning strikes as occurring at different times due to the relativistic effects of time dilation and length contraction, making the distance between the strikes appear less than a mile.

A Super Train Is Moving Along a Track at a Speed