what is relativity?

Answer 1

it is basically a complicated name given to seeing things move at different points of view. eg. say you were watching a bus go past and you and the bus are the only things in a great abyss. relative to u the bus moves past. relative to the bus you move pass. so therefore there is really no such thing as motion till u make the thing moving relative to something else. determining which one is moving usally involves a third point. so there is no such thing as north east west south up and down speed or any direction or movement at all without relativity.

Answer 2

You have to understand that many of these theories such as this one of Einsteins are actually perhaps more appropriately thought of as "art". As the other people said- you could buy a book on relativity or read Einsteins writings on it. And of course it has been expanded on by subsequent scientists and philosophers.

But it can be thought of simply. I like the bus and you analogy. Thats the theory in a nutshell by example. But its doesnt explain the intellectual prowess or meaning of the theory.

Its the kind of thought that occurs to a kid on a bus. The scenery outside is flashing by- is the bus moving or is the scenery moving.

And that other peach- if a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it does it make a sound-- ie the trees sound is relative to nothing is the implication.

Look it is just a theory. It has no concrete basis, you could even say it is bogus. Of course you are moving if you are moving regardless of a reference point. Or are you? Do you see the clever philosophical point--- imagine your self i a clear background- in absolute nothingness- how could you know if you were moving or not? But you might be right...

I dont think its particularly profound to think of but it is a profound thought.

It can be utilized in applied physics to better understand things and therefore be more effective in problem solving. ie In determing the motion of something look for a reference point because so far on earth we have always been able to find one. Centuries ago sailors navigated using the stars as their reference point for example- and that was before einstein articulated it or gave it a name

In philosophical terms, and let me tell you sometimes there is an extremely fine line between philosophy and physics- for example it has been extrapolated in physics that if you could get a lens powerful enough to see around the universe you could see the past. I mean this is obviously true but it relys on assumptions that the universe is round etc etc that the universe has a limit which I don't personally believe- but yeah in philosophical terms a similar theory to relativity might be--- how do we know if what one human sees is the same as another-- I see blue and you see red but everyone says that the colour we both see is orange so we call it orange-- do you get there relativity in that?

hope that helps

Answer 3

Answering that question entails a corse in physics... Start here. There are many hyperlinks that you can explore

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_relativity