This answer to a recent question related to Einstein's thought-experimental definition of (how to determine) simultaneity contained the following statement:
Suppose two people, C and D, stand equal distances from you and are known to pitch balls at exactly the same speed. With everyone standing at rest, C and D each toss you a ball. You get the ball from C *before* the one from D. This is not a logical inconsistency. It simply means C threw a ball *before* D in your reference frame [emphasis added].
I believe that I understand the described setup and the conclusion ("It simply means C threw a ball before D") as such.
But I (still) question whether it is necessary to add the qualification "in your reference frame" (above and beyond pointing out the relevant participants C and D themselves), or whether that is superfluous.
Since Einstein's definition essentially requires to identify a "midpoint between" the two participants under consideration who are at rest to each other (such as "between railroad ties A and B", in the reference linked above; or "between pitchers C and D" in the quoted statement) therefore I'd like to know:
Is it necessesary to refer to
"the midpoint between pitchers C and D in your (and C's and D's) inertial reference frame"
in order to identify it uniquely,
instead of simply referring to "the midpoint between ween pitchers C and D" ?
Is there a "midpoint between pitchers C and D in an (inertial) reference frame other than your's (and C's and D's)" ?
And if so, is such a "midpoint between pitchers C and D in an (inertial) reference frame other than your's (and C's and D's)" different from "the midpoint between pitchers C and D in your (and C's and D's) inertial reference frame" ?
(If not, then the qualification "in your reference frame" is apparently superfluous; and, indeed, it would seem inappropriate and misleading to add such a qualification as if it were necessary.)
No comments:
Post a Comment