# Time Elapsed for a moving observer to reach a reflected pulse of light

Alice is moving towards a mirror with a velocity of $0.8c$. She sends a pulse of light toward the mirror when she is at a distance $L$ from the mirror and she times how long the pulse of light takes to come back to her. Bob is sitting at rest in relation to the mirror. What is the elapsed time from when Alice emits the pulse of light to when she receives it, as measured by Alice? Finally, what is the elapsed time as measured by Bob?

• I know based on the problem I know that it involves length contraction, but after more consideration, I think it may involve time dilation as well. Any help would be appreciated. – Jonnam5 May 20 '18 at 18:25

• In my interpretation, this is a special relativity problem, since Alice and Bob will not agree on the elapsed time this problem is asking for. For example, the distance that Alice measures from her to the mirror is not $L$, but is it less than $L$, since she is moving at $0.8c$. On the other hand, Bob measures this distance to be $L$. I know that they are both in inertial reference frames, but from what I know this still holds true. – Jonnam5 May 20 '18 at 18:47