A person standing on a platform notes that a train travelling with a velocity of 0.6c requires one second to pass by them. Determine the length of the train as seen by this person.

Step-by-step solution

The velocity of the train is given as v = 0.6c . Substituting the speed of light c = 3 10^8 m/s : v = 0.6 3 10^8 m/s = 1.8 10^8 m/s The time taken for the train to pass the person on the platform is t = 1 s . The length of the train as observed by the person is simply the distance the train travels in their frame of reference during this time interval. L = v t L = 1.8 10^8 m/s 1 s = 1.8 10^8 m