Talk:Special Relativity/Mathematical Appendix

Einstein's original approach

‘How would two observers measure the position and timing of an event by using light rays if the speed of light were constant?’

How can one use light rays to "measure the position and timing of an event"? Could you please clarify the assumptions made by Einstein? Did he assume that a remote object emits a light ray which is then received independently by two observers? Did he assume that x and t represent the coordinates of the emission event as measured by an observer?Sugdub (discuss • contribs) 17:11, 12 February 2012 (UTC)
 * Each observer is measuring the coordinates of the same "beam of light" traveling in a straight line along the x-axis. They perform these measurements using clocks and measuring rods they have with them. So the stationary observer is holding a measuring rod and a clock and measuring x and t, the observer in motion has a separate rod and clock and measures x' and t'. x and x' measure how far the light beam has moved along their respective measuring rods. t and t' are simply how many seconds have elapsed on the clocks each of them carry, respectively. If I am mistaken in anyway please correct me, but in either case I think the text should be a little more clear.

Einstein's original approach - explanation of equation 6
Note I read;

Now $$t$$ can be eliminated from equations (1) and (2) and combined with $$v = \frac{bc}{a}$$ and (4) to give in the case where $$x=1$$ and $$t^' = 0$$:

as;

Now $$t$$ can be eliminated from equations (1) and (2) and combined with (3) $$v = \frac{bc}{a}$$ to give in the case where $$t^' = 0$$:

Richardbrucebaxter (discuss • contribs) 03:36, 6 April 2015 (UTC)