Detail Page

Item Picture
Simultaneous Events Program
written by Kiril Simov and Wolfgang Christian
The Simultaneous Events program displays the effect of relative motion on the relative ordering of events in special relativity.   In the default scenario two simultaneous events are observed in a stationary reference frame (the Other Frame) and the spacetime diagram of the observation of these events is depicted in another reference frame (the Home Frame).  The slider can be used to change the relative speed between the two frames.

Simultaneous Events is an Open Source Physics program written for the teaching of special relativity.  It is distributed as a ready-to-run (compiled) Java archive.  Double clicking the sr_simultaneous.jar file will run the program if Java is installed.  Other special relativity programs are also available.  They can be found by searching ComPADRE for Open Source Physics, OSP, or Relativity.

Please note that this resource requires at least version 1.5 of Java.
Subjects Levels Resource Types
Classical Mechanics
- Relative Motion
= Moving Reference Frames
Relativity
- Reference Frames
- Spacetime Fundamentals
- Special Relativity
= Simultaneity
- Lower Undergraduate
- Upper Undergraduate
- Instructional Material
= Interactive Simulation
Intended Users Formats Ratings
- Learners
- Professional/Practitioners
- Educators
- application/java
  • Currently 0.0/5

Want to rate this material?
Login here!


Access Rights:
Free access
Restriction:
© 2008 Wolfgang Christian
Additional information is available.
Keywords:
OSP, Open Source Physics, events, inertial reference frames, reference frames, simultaneity, simultaneous, spacetime diagram, special relativity
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created May 23, 2008 by Mario Belloni
Record Updated:
May 12, 2015 by Wolfgang Christian
Last Update
when Cataloged:
May 1, 2008
Other Collections:

Possible bug in the simultaneous events program

Author: Duncan Galloway
Posted: April 29, 2015 at 5:27AM
Source: The Open Source Physics collection

Hi,
we have been using the simultaneous events program for some years, and have noticed what appears to be a minor bug. The gradient of the world line does not agree with the 1/v that we expect. It is actually measurably steeper.

For example, with beta=0.5, the world line beginning at the left (i.e. the left end of the rod) passes through the points (-0.5,0.83) and (0.,2.03), indicating a gradient of 2.4, where it should be 2. Here is a link for an illustrative diagram: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12977207/simultaneous.jpg

This does not seem to be a platform issue, as we've experienced it on both Macs and Linux desktops. I hope you can suggest a workaround or solution

Thanks
Duncan

» reply

Re: Possible bug in the simultaneous events program

Author: Wolfgang
Posted:

Thanks for point out the error in Simov's model.  I will try and fix it this summer.  In the meantime, you can use the following.

http://www.opensourcephysics.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=10383

» reply

Re: Re: Possible bug in the simultaneous events program

Author: Wolfgang
Posted:

Bug in worldline slope has been fixed.

» reply

Post a new comment on this item
ComPADRE is beta testing Citation Styles!

Record Link
AIP Format
K. Simov and W. Christian, Computer Program SIMULTANEOUS EVENTS PROGRAM, Version 1.0 (2008), WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=7237&DocID=410).
AJP/PRST-PER
K. Simov and W. Christian, Computer Program SIMULTANEOUS EVENTS PROGRAM, Version 1.0 (2008), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=7237&DocID=410>.
APA Format
Simov, K., & Christian, W. (2008). Simultaneous Events Program (Version 1.0) [Computer software]. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=7237&DocID=410
Chicago Format
Simov, Kiril, and Wolfgang Christian. "Simultaneous Events Program." Version 1.0. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=7237&DocID=410 (accessed 29 March 2024).
MLA Format
Simov, Kiril, and Wolfgang Christian. Simultaneous Events Program. Vers. 1.0. Computer software. 2008. Java 1.5. 29 Mar. 2024 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=7237&DocID=410>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Author = "Kiril Simov and Wolfgang Christian", Title = {Simultaneous Events Program}, Month = {May}, Year = {2008} }
Refer Export Format

%A Kiril Simov %A Wolfgang Christian %T Simultaneous Events Program %D May 1, 2008 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=7237&DocID=410 %O 1.0 %O application/java

EndNote Export Format

%0 Computer Program %A Simov, Kiril %A Christian, Wolfgang %D May 1, 2008 %T Simultaneous Events Program %7 1.0 %8 May 1, 2008 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=7237&DocID=410


Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.

Citation Source Information

The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References.

The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation.

The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ.

This resource is stored in a shared folder.

You must login to access shared folders.

Simultaneous Events Program:

References Six Ideas that Shaped Physics

We have adopted the same terminology for the Home and Other Frames as Thomas Moore's Six Ideas that Shaped Physics book on special relativity.

relation by Mario Belloni

Know of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it.
Save to my folders

Supplements

Contribute

Related Materials

Similar Materials