Can someone explain the Law of Relativity to me?

Question

It's so difficult to understand

Answer 1

It is a theory, not a law.

SIMPLY put, it says that that things are relative to each other. Time, Space, Velocity, all relative to a certain point.

If you are walikng down the road at 5 mph, you are going 5mph relative to the road surface.

If you are in a traingoing 90MPH, and walking down the isle at 5mph, you can say you are going 5mph (relative to the train floor) or 95MPH (relative to the ground outside)

The finding that caused all the interest in relativity is that light always moves at the same speed, no matter what it is relative to. This is why yes, if you are in a car doing the speed of light and turn the headlights on, yes, they will work. What this theorized is that, if the speed of light is a constant, then distance and or time must fluctuate.

Its a mind bender, but fascinating when you can wrap your head around it

Answer 2

Relativity is not a Law . Its a Theory. The Relativity problem was first stated by Galileo who called it the Principle of relativity.
Einstein theory of Relativity where basically 2 postulates.
First postulate;
The velocity of light is constant in all frame of references
second postulate
All law of physics are the same in all inertial frames

These idea came as a result of the Michelson & Morley experiments.,where they determined that the speed of light was the same no matter how you look at it.

Based on these postulate Einstein developed the Special theory of relativity which dealt with what happens when masses and objects move relative to an inertial frame of reference.
So the Theory is valid only based on the approximation of an inertial system.

However in the practical world all motion is basically non inertial.Hence he had to come up with a theory which dealt with non inertial system(that is non uniform motion.)So he developed a General theory which does deal with non uniform motion. The basic postulate of the theory is based on assumption that inertial acceleration is equivalent to non inertial acceleration(gravitational acceleration which is defined as gravity field).
So Genereral Relativity theory hangs on this postulate ,which became known as the Equivalence Principle.
On this principle he Developped a Field Equation which is composed of A special vector algebra called tensors. These tensors comprised of differential equation involving the stress energy and the curvature of space tensor.
The field equation consisted of a solution which described a mathematical abstract of the space in the universe ,called a manifold which became a model used to mimic what happens in real space.
What happens in the gravity field of space is calculated as a function in the curvature of this imaginary geometrical volume named manifold.
Initially very few Understood the theory and even today its the case.
When the astronauts went into space, Newton Gravitational theory was used instead because relativity theory was too cumbersome to use.
As far as trying to Undertanding it you have to have the same genius as Einstein. You can always try. Good luck.

Answer 3

Well, Einstein explained relativity as follows:

"If you sit on a hot stove for a minute, it feels like an hour. If you talk to a pretty girl for an hour, it feels like a minute. That's relativity."

Heck, you can't make it easier than that. No wonder he was considered a genius.

Answer 4

The is no such thing. There are two Theories of Relativity, though, Special and General.

The long and short of it is that they say there are no absolutes, that everything is measured with respect and in relationship to something else, and so changes accordingly.

Answer 5

The Law of Relativity is but the relationship of all things understood by the particular viewpoint from which they are seen, (i.e. the Law of Relativity has as its reference point the "I"). Example: As the experience continues, greater awareness and the desire for more understanding increases.
The entity, the force, then begins to probe into the nature of those forces outside of its own control, outside of its own understanding. As this occurs, the quality of reason, the rational approach, begins to develop. And in this development there comes about that aspect of consciousness which desires to put things in order - to classify, to see things in retrospect, to see things in the order of cause and effect, in the order of polarities, and their relationship to one another and in the order of relative placement and relationship. The consciousness then begins to observe from a particular viewpoint, and that particular viewpoint, brings forth and observation and an understanding of the nature of outside forces which are peculiar to that particular viewpoint.
This is the basis for the Law of Relativity, which in simplified terms is but the relationship of all things understood by the particular viewpoint from which they are seen. As the viewpoint shifts the relative relationship of those things also becomes different.
The train moving at a particular rate of speed in relation to the entity standing beside the tracks is somewhat different from the rate of speed of another train passing in the opposite direction or of an automobile raveling in the same direction of the train.
The relative viewpoint of an entity looking at an elephant from the front is somewhat different from the entity looking at an elephant from an airplane, from beneath, or from behind the elephant. Each viewpoint is relative, each is accurate, and yet the descriptions will be totally different.

Answer 6

Take this for ex

You ar walking east at 2 miles an hour. Relative to the road you are traveling at 2 miles an hour.

The earth is rotating at 1000 miles per hour. relative to the earth you are traveling at 1002 miles per hour.

The earth rotates around the sun at 67,000 miles per hour, So relative to the sun you are traveling at 68,002 miles per hour.

Wow that's fast.!!!

Speed, velocity etc are all relative. i.e you should have a non-moving object to find your actual speed!!

Answer 7

it would take too long to explain and its a theory anyway!