College Physics (4th Edition)

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0073512141
ISBN 13: 978-0-07351-214-3

Chapter 26 - Problems - Page 1009: 1

Answer

The arrival of the optical signal precedes the arrival of the train by $2.2\times 10^{-6}~s$

Work Step by Step

We can find $T_L$, the time it takes the light signal to reach the station according to the stationmaster's clock: $T_L = \frac{10^3~m}{3.0\times 10^8~m/s}$ $T_L = 3.3\times 10^{-6}~s$ We can find $T_T$, the time it takes the train to reach the station according to the stationmaster's clock: $T_T = \frac{10^3~m}{(0.6)(3.0\times 10^8~m/s)}$ $T_T = 5.5\times 10^{-6}~s$ The time difference is $T_T-T_L$ which is $2.2\times 10^{-6}~s$ The arrival of the optical signal precedes the arrival of the train by $2.2\times 10^{-6}~s$.
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