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Adrian Howard
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Since all frames of reference are equally valid, in a uniformly descending, non accelerating elevator, all physical occurrences would be indistinguishable from an elevator considered at rest. So in both cases the bolt would release the same energy on impact with the floor. If you were in the moving elevator, you would see the bolt start it's fall at 0 velocity, fall 3 m at about 9.8 meters per second squared, and hit the floor. You would see the same in an elevator considered at rest. An external observer on the ground would see the bolt fall for the same amount of time in both cases, since no relativistic speeds are involved.

Since all frames of reference are equally valid, in a uniformly descending, non accelerating elevator, all physical occurrences would be indistinguishable from an elevator considered at rest. So in both cases the bolt would release the same energy on impact with the floor.

Since all frames of reference are equally valid, in a uniformly descending, non accelerating elevator, all physical occurrences would be indistinguishable from an elevator considered at rest. So in both cases the bolt would release the same energy on impact with the floor. If you were in the moving elevator, you would see the bolt start it's fall at 0 velocity, fall 3 m at about 9.8 meters per second squared, and hit the floor. You would see the same in an elevator considered at rest. An external observer on the ground would see the bolt fall for the same amount of time in both cases, since no relativistic speeds are involved.

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Adrian Howard
  • 8.5k
  • 3
  • 17
  • 28

Since all frames of reference are equally valid, in a uniformly descending, non accelerating elevator, all physical occurrences would be indistinguishable from an elevator considered at rest. So in both cases the bolt would release the same energy on impact with the floor.