Two events occur simultaneously on the x axis of reference frame S, one at x = -a and the other at x = +a.According to an observer moving in the positive x direction:
A)the event at x = +a occurs first
B)the event at x = -a occurs first
C)either event might occur first, depending on the value of a and the observer's speed
D)the events are simultaneous
E)none of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the theory of relativity, simultaneity is relative. For an observer moving in the positive x direction, events that are simultaneous in one frame of reference may not be simultaneous in another. Specifically, for an observer moving towards the event occurring at x = +a, that event would appear to occur first due to the Lorentz transformation, which describes how the measurements of time and space change for observers in different inertial frames.

Two Events Occur Simultaneously on the X Axis of Reference