Chapter 27, Problem 11CQ

Two trees are 600 m apart. You are standing exactly halfway between them and your lab partner is at the base of tree 1. Lightning strikes both trees

a. Your lab partner, based on measurements he makes, determines that the two lightning strikes were simultaneous. What did you see? Did you see the lightning hit tree 1 first, hit tree 2 first, or hit them both at the same instant of time? Explain.

b. Lightning strikes the trees again. This time your lab partner sees both flashes of light at the same instant of time. What did you see? Did you see the lightning hit tree 1 first, hit tree 2 first, or hit them both at the same instant of time? Explain.

c. In the scenario of part b. were the lightning strikes simultaneous? Explain.