2006-09-26 06:14:01 · 15 answers · asked by Raghupathy C 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
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.
2006-09-26 06:18:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In very simple terminology Theory Of Relativity is about the basic fact that nothing in this existing earth or space is what it seems.
The earth ,the space the galaxy and all its components are in a state of constant motion. The speeds of these are all different.
Though you may be standing at a bus stop and looking out to a girl waking by. the basic fact is that you were not standing still ,you were moving along with the mother earth on its daily rotation against its axis. Add to it the motion around the sun and then add to it the rate at which the galaxy is expanding.You will find that you were in motion as well as the girl. As against the speed of girl relative to your speed you were (as you thought )standing still. Now that is relativity. Complex? who said that.?
2006-09-26 18:20:54 · answer #2 · answered by sudiptocool 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is how Einstein himself explained it to the British queen once.
E: If everything disappears from here what will remain?
Q: Nothing. Empty space.
E: In theory of relativity, space also will disappear.
2006-09-26 06:25:16 · answer #3 · answered by liketoaskq 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Space tells matter how to move but matter tells space how to bend which determines how matter moves.........
Matter is "frozen" energy. The exchange rate gives you a HUGE amount of energy for a small amount of mass. Einsteins famous equation
If you start out travelling at less than the speed of light you can never exceed the speed of light.
The speed of light is constant for all observers. However they can have a punch-up over when something happened how big and what colour it is.
2006-09-26 07:20:24 · answer #4 · answered by black sheep 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All physical measurements are done with respect to some reference frame attached to the observer. when we measure the length of a rod, the rod lies in our frame and the measurement is done with a scale or measuring tape. a frame which is not subject to any force is called inertial frame. according to special theory of relativity the laws of physics are same in all inertial reference frames. second, the speed of light in vacuum(empty space) is same for all observers in inertial reference frame, it does not depend on the state of motion of the observer. this may be counter-intuitive but that is what special relativity teaches us. when you observe a train moving on tracks at 60km/hour and inside the train a ball is moving at 40km/hour speed with respect to the train(in the same direction), then according to you, standing on ground, the ball is moving at 60+40=100km/hour speed with respect to you or your reference frame. this velocity addition law is valid in Newtonian mechanics. In special relativity, for light in such analogous situation, speed of light +speed of light=speed of light once again.(this require some algebra). According to general relativity, in the presence of massive objects and energy
space and time get curved. the amount of curvature depends on matter or energy density in complicate way. Hope this helps a little.
2006-09-26 07:58:20 · answer #5 · answered by Roy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Einsteins E = MC^2
2006-09-26 06:17:17 · answer #6 · answered by Francis Rodriguez 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
E=MC2 is basically converting matter into energy. Example the sun converts 600 million tons of Hydrogen into helium every second and the result is the light we see
2006-09-26 06:34:52 · answer #7 · answered by David W 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
relativity means that when you are travelling fast, other things which move fast look slower than they would if you were stationary. all the measurable properties of any body behave differently under circumstances of speed.
2006-09-27 04:11:31 · answer #8 · answered by rpkban 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means things are relative. If you go 60MPH in a car that is fast relative to someone walking but slow relative to someone in an F-16.
2006-09-26 06:17:09 · answer #9 · answered by Cybeq 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Its meaning is nothing could be measured w.r.t. absolute frame of reference.All motion,length,time are relative n velocity of light is same in all directions in free space.
2006-09-28 17:07:08 · answer #10 · answered by rita 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋