Final answer:
Observers in different reference frames could perceive two simultaneous lightning strikes as non-simultaneous due to the principles of special relativity, which state that simultaneity is relative and depends on the relative velocity between the observers.
Step-by-step explanation:
If two lightning bolts hit at the exact same place and same time in one reference frame, observers in another frame could indeed see the lightning bolts hitting at different times or places. This phenomenon is related to the principles of special relativity, which were developed by Albert Einstein. According to special relativity, simultaneity is not absolute but relative to the observer's frame of reference. The concept of simultaneity directly depends on the relative velocity between observers.
For example, consider two observers: Observer A is on a moving train, and Observer B stands on a platform as the train passes. If two flash lamps on the train are activated simultaneously in Observer B's reference frame, Observer A, moving with the train, will perceive the flashes as occurring at different times due to their motion relative to the speed of light, which is constant in all inertial frames of reference.
This relative motion leads to the conclusion that two events that are simultaneous in one frame of reference may not be simultaneous in another, which is precisely what would happen with observers witnessing lightning strikes from different frames of reference. The postulate that the speed of light is the same for all observers is fundamental to understanding these differences in the perception of simultaneity.