What is the theory of relativity all about?!?!?

Answer 1

Things depend on the point of view of the observer and the observed.

We only see things from a certain point in space our point of reference..to someone else things may look different at their point of reference..no one sees things from all points of reference.except .maybe the all seeing God

Answer 2

The theory of relativity has a pretty simple premise. As it applies to physics, it means that every physical phenomena can be observed differently depending on what it is referenced to.

As a simple example, if 1 car is going 20 mph east and another is going 20 mph west, the relative velocity that the first car will see is that the 2cd car is coming towards him at 40 mph.

However, relativity can get extremely complex even though its based in such a simple idea. When doppler, time shifts, and gravity fields are considered things can get crazy.

Answer 3

In Simple Terms:

The theory of relativity is in fact two theories. The special theory of relativity (1905) and the general theory of relativity (1915). The special theory gives a unified account of the laws of mechanics and of electromagnetism. Einstein rejected the concepts of absolute space and time and made two postulates (a) the laws of nature are the same for all observers in uniform relative motion and (b) the speed of light is the same for all such observers.

The transformation of time implies that two events that are simultaneous according to one observer will not necessarily be so according to another in uniform relative motion. It will appear to two observers in uniform relative motion that each other's clock runs slowly. This is the phenomenon of time dilation.

A mathematical formulation of the special theory of relativity is based on the idea that an event is specified by four co-ordinates: three spatial co-ordinates and one time co-ordinate. These co-ordinates define a four-dimensional space and the motion of a particle can be described by a curve in this space.

The special theory of relativity is concerned with relative motion between non-accelerated frames of reference. The general theory deals with general relative motion between accelerated frames of reference. In accelerated systems of reference, certain fictitious forces are observed, such as the centrifugal and Coriolis forces found in rotating systems. These are known as fictitious forces because they disappear when the observer transforms to an non-accelerated system.

The predictions of general relativity only differ from Newton's theory by small amounts and most tests of the theory have been carried out through observations in astronomy. For example, it explains the shift in the perihelion of Mercury, the bending of light or other electromagnetic radiation in the presence of large bodies, and the Einstein shift.

Answer 4

The theory of relativity, or simply relativity, refers specifically to two theories: Albert Einstein's special relativity and general relativity.

The term "relativity" was coined by Max Planck in 1908 to emphasize how special relativity (and later, general relativity) uses the principle of relativity.

Contents [hide]
1 Special relativity
2 General relativity
3 See also
4 References and links
5 External links



[edit]
Special relativity
Main article: Special relativity
Albert Einstein's 1905 paper "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" introduced the special theory of relativity. Special relativity considers that observers in inertial reference frames, which are in uniform motion relative to one another, cannot perform any experiment to determine which one of them is "stationary". This is actually Galileo's principle of relativity; Einstein's contribution was to explicitly include electromagnetism within this principle, which required that the Galilean transformations be replaced by the Lorentz transformations. The resultant theory has many surprising consequences. In particular, it requires that the speed of light in a vacuum be the same for all these observers, regardless of their motion, or the motion of the source of the light, since the invariance of the speed of light is a consequence of Maxwell's equations of electromagnetism.

[edit]
General relativity
Main article: General relativity
General relativity was developed by Einstein in the years 1907 - 1915. General relativity replaces the global Lorentz symmetry of special relativity with a local Lorentz symmetry in the presence of matter. The presence of matter "curves" spacetime, and this curvature affects the path of free particles (and even the path of light). General relativity uses the mathematics of differential geometry and tensors in order to describe gravitation as an effect of the geometry of spacetime. This theory is based on the general principle of relativity, which requires all observers to experience the same laws of physics, not just those moving with uniform speed, hence its name.

Answer 5

Theory of relativity is about rules of universe for realy big things, such as planets and galaxy.

This theory debunks the newtonian physics on gravity. Newtonian physics only applies to the common things,.. everyday things.

Another theory is the quantum theory, which applies to the really small, such as atoms, electrons, protons, neutrons,..etc.

Answer 6

it's too compicated to talk about it in here, but if you really want to know you should read 'A brief history of time' by Mr Stephen Howking. It's great book, and written in simple language, so that everybody can understand the theory of relativity and beyond.

Answer 7

Basically, that time and speed are linked. Time travels at the speed of light.

If you can travel faster than light, you can travel faster than time and so time will be going slower than you.

If you could travel in space at faster than light for 1 year, then time on earth will have been going slower. When you got back to earth you would have aged only one year but other people may have aged 10 years or more.

Also, space is not in a straight line, it is curved, so time is curved also. If you are travelling faster than time you could theoretically jump to other areas of time, either in the future of past.

I think that is, as I said, basically the concept.

Answer 8

I like the source below... it may be a bit complex at points but overall is a good read.

Answer 9

That there are no privileged frames of reference. It is about many things: Time, space, matter, energy, speed etc.

Answer 10

Everyone south of the mason dixon line is related!