Ridiculous Musings On the Watercress Line
Einstein said that the closer a traveller gets to the speed of light, the more compressed he will seem when viewed by a stationary observer. Looking at these stationary carriages, parked on the Watercress Line in Hampshire, I cannot help but wonder which of us is moving at relativistic speeds? Given that I think I know that the carriages aren't moving, it must be me.
But relativity says that if that were the case, then I would see the carriages in elongated form as they are receding from me. So clearly, something has gone awry with the space-time continuum.
If you don't fancy being compressed, think long and hard before commiting yourself to travel by train, vintage or otherwise.
Ridiculous Musings On the Watercress Line
Einstein said that the closer a traveller gets to the speed of light, the more compressed he will seem when viewed by a stationary observer. Looking at these stationary carriages, parked on the Watercress Line in Hampshire, I cannot help but wonder which of us is moving at relativistic speeds? Given that I think I know that the carriages aren't moving, it must be me.
But relativity says that if that were the case, then I would see the carriages in elongated form as they are receding from me. So clearly, something has gone awry with the space-time continuum.
If you don't fancy being compressed, think long and hard before commiting yourself to travel by train, vintage or otherwise.