The Physics 242 Puzzler

A command ship is located exactly midway between two scout ships, A and B. All three ships are moving in formation with the same velocity, relative to a "stationary" observer, C. The commander sends an isotropic broadcast signal (an electromagnetic wave) to the front and the back scout ships instructing them to increase their speed. In the spaceship frame of reference, the two scout ships recieve the signals and increase their speeds simultaneously, thereby maintaining the same distance of separation. However, the stationary observer C does not see this. Answer the following:

1. According to C, which ship received the signal first?

2. According to C, what happens to the distance between the ships?

3. Explain how this change in distance between the scout ships according to C (but not according to the ships) is consistent with relativity.

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