Relativity of Simultaneity; Time

 What is the relativity of simultaneity?

The concept that distant simultaneity (whether two spatially separated events occur at the same time) is not absolute, and depends on the observers vantage point.

I think this graphic provides a simple, yet brilliant example of this phenomena. Although in the both diagrams the balls are traveling with different velocities from different distances, they still reach the wall at the same time. This is a classic physics problem that has to do compensating for lost distance and velocity. Although in the top picture the ball are placed at 100m, in the bottom, the balls are released from a slightly different midpoint to accommodate for the change in velocities.

The study depicts the relativity of simultaneity with the use of a light signal and without one. Both studies are right, the only change and argument arises with the fact of the difference of perspective based off of the observer. The reasoning to each of these cases arises with the clock. The clocks at A and B show time "0" when events occur at each. But, these events are not simultaneous for the observer, thus it will appear that the clocks are not properly in sync. 

What the relativity of simultaneity is NOT...

The effect observed is not questionable, it comes down to the timing which is based of observer perspective. The example given in the text refers to someone being struck by lightning and the sound of thunder. For the person being struck, the events (lightning crashing the sound of thunder) would be simultaneous events, but someone who is in the distance not effected by these events will see the lightning and then hear the crack of thunder, thus the events are not simultaneous. The reliance of perspective is massive when dealing with relative simultaneity. 

This example is a way to demonstrate "Appearance Simultaneity". Events are simultaneous in the sense, only if our sensations of them happen at the same moment. This is not the same as the relativity of simultaneity, as in this phenomena, we correct for differences in appearances. The relativity of simultaneity of relativity theory arises after oddities have been corrected for the appearance simultaneity. Even after, the timing for observers will still be up for debate.

In Special Relativity, is time unreal?

This concept ties in perfectly with relative simultaneity. Einstein says that "time is relative". This means that in the quantum realm, the rate at which time passes is determined by one's frame of reference. So does this answer the question of is time unreal in Special Relativity? Not really...time still exists, its the vantage point that changes the reference for it. Meaning that time will always be here, and it will always be quantifiable, but it depends on the observer and point of view. 

Time is always moving, thus we are able to depict it in many different ways. Thus, the frame of reference plays a key role in determining the time and its constantly moving aspects.

BTW, I love physics and the ideas of quantum theory, thus reading about Einstein, was very interesting, since I have previously done research on this in the past.