Simultaneity: Definition
Einstein’s analysis of ”happening at the same time”
Must distinguish between the simultaneity of local events (events happening at the same place) and simultaneity of spatially separated events.
Local events
- We don’t need to define simultaneity for these events
- We take it to be a primitive concept.
- Time for all events at the same place is defined by one single clock at that place.
Spatially separated events:
- We CANNOT claim this to be a primitive concept.
- We cannot be present at both these events so we cannot make the same judgment we can make for local events.
- We need an operational definition!