2006-09-19 02:23:47 · 7 answers · asked by alexissitaropoulos 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It basically says two things,
1. The speed of light is the same for all observers, no matter what their relative speeds.
2. The laws of physics are the same in any inertial (that is, non-accelerated) frame of reference. This means that the laws of physics observed by a hypothetical observer traveling with a relativistic particle must be the same as those observed by an observer who is stationary in the laboratory.
The results of these two statements are that time slows down when you get close to the speed of light, and things actually get smaller.
2006-09-19 02:36:50 · answer #1 · answered by abcdefghijk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This theory explains that the speed of anything viewed by two observers moving at different velocities will appear to those observers to be different but that the speed of light is constant no matter the relationship of the observer to it.
2006-09-19 03:10:36 · answer #2 · answered by Nightstalker1967 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The (apparent) speed of light measured by two observers will differ depending on their position relative to the light.
Since the observers all agree on the speed of light and dont agree on the distance travelled, then the time travelled is different.
2006-09-19 02:30:19 · answer #3 · answered by toietmoi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If only Albert Einstein were alive today, he would probably be glad to whip out a hundred pages or so of explanation for two points.
Try going on the Internet to "How Stuff works" I think they have an archived article on that subject written very clearly.
2006-09-19 02:28:47 · answer #4 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
easy: the faster you go (close to the speed of light), the more those three effects happen:
- time slows down (will halt at the speed of light)
- lengths contract (will contract to zero at the speed of light)
- mass increases (will increase to infinity at the speed of light)
this is verified daily by many particle accelerators. The faster you make particles go, the longer they live (their times slows down), and the more power you need to apply to magnets to bend their trajectory.
2006-09-19 03:26:11 · answer #5 · answered by AntoineBachmann 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"All paths through spacetime connecting the same two events have the same four-space length."
"Simultaneity for events separated in space is an illusion created by perspective in your frame of reference."
2006-09-19 02:52:01 · answer #6 · answered by David S 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well just mail me if u get the answer ---i tried a lot,thought a lot, but neither have i enuf knowlege nor experience----wish einstein was there today
2006-09-19 02:32:23 · answer #7 · answered by trexen 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋