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Let we have two inertial frames $OXY$ and $O'XY'$:

Accordingly to principle of relativity there are two cases:

  1. First inertial frame is stationary. Second inertial frame is moving with velocity V (moving car).
  2. First inertial frame is moving with velocity V. Second inertial frame is stationary (car at rest).

But I always thought that if the second frame is stationary (car is at rest, case #2) then first frame should move to the left side (case #3 that is wrong).

Where did I go wrong? Why is case#3 wrong?

Thanks!

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    $\begingroup$ It depends which frame the observer is sitting in, here the observer appears to be in frame OXY (frame 1). $\endgroup$ Commented Jan 29 at 17:40

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Your case 3 is correct. It is case 2 that is wrong.

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