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 Einsteins Left Behind. |
A train engine called the 'x-vt' carrying six cars sits in the station. Those aboard include Woldemar Voigt in car number two. He is talking to his friends, the Einsteins, face to face through the open window, as
they stand on the platform. They all wave to another as the trains pulls away, but the old "x-xt" had some engine trouble and just stopped after only going the length of three cars, whereupon they announced for
the passengers to immediately de-train. "Since we were at platform two, and the train moved right by three, then it only makes sense that I cannot see the train when I look straight ahead. So, x = 2 and vt = 3, hence x' = -1. The other Einstein said, "since x = x' + vt, also confirms that x' = -1, well, there is your proof." Woldemar stayed put while I slowly walked towards the Einsteins still affixed on platform number two. I hesitated my walking for a few moments as I asked them, "What about me? I was on that train as well, and surely I de-trained at platform 5. How come you just ignore my point of view? Seems to me, you are only correct if there was nobody on the train. Sure, from where you stand, you are now in front of the train...I agree. However, I WAS on the train, and to be sure, I did not de-train at platform two, nor did I ever jump out in front of the 'x-vt' engine ". They both shrugged their shoulders and quipped that they thought I was being quite rude. I only smiled and I as left both Einsteins behind, as they remained on that platform, whipping off their sweat from the latent heat of the stalled locomotive. I left that track right away, and went to an alternate track that housed the newly improved "x in S = x' in S'" engine. It notably has had no mechanical failures ever since then, with that particular engine. Interestingly, time nor speed was never an issue, so long as the locomotive arrived getting me and those others aboard to the proper destination. steve waterman sept 8, 2009 |
