[Phys-L] Re: Back to "moving clocks" [was: Re: student mathematical capability]

[Rick Tarara <rtarara@SAINTMARYS.EDU>]

Way too subtle for the Gen-Ed audience that needs three weeks of intense
work so that the majority can 'accept' that the acceleration of a ball at
the top of it's free fall flight is NOT zero!  ;-(

Rick

----- Original Message -----
From: "Hugh Haskell" <hhaskell@MINDSPRING.COM>
. It is far too easy for a student to translate "moving clocks
> run slow," when looking at it from the other person's perspective,
> into "well, I am now moving, so the other person's clock must be
> running faster since it is 'at rest.'" Until students are thoroughly
> imbued with the idea that *all* motion is relative, they will not
> understand the symmetry inherent in Einstein's relativity, and the
> ensuing requirement that absolute simultaneity must be abandoned.
> This is one of the most important results of relativity and one of
> the most difficult for students to understand. As long as they
> haven't completely internalized the idea that all motion is relative,
> they will never understand the issues around simultaneity.
>
> Hugh
> --
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