please give me a simple yet direct and complete info about the theory of relativity and its relation to time?

Question

i really need a simple yet direct info about relativity so that i can understand it .and i believe it has something to do with time

Answer 1

Hi Mark,
This is a two part question, let me first describe the basics of the theory of relativity then I will try to answer the second part regarding time

Here it is in a nutshell. E=MC squared, where C is the speed of light (186,238 Miles per second approximately). E = the energy required to make a vehicle of some sort (spaceship) or any other object travel at the speed of light. M= the mass of the object which is in question.

As an object approaches the speed of light it's mass, relative to what it was at rest increases, theoretically. The theory has never been proven because there is not a power source on the planet large enough to get an object to the speed of light a good webite to visit is http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/phonedrmarc/2003_may.shtml
and it explains the theory far better than I can.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

In Special and General Relativity, time represents a fourth metric dimension. That's the simple part. There is no simple explanation that would be reasonably complete to show how the time dimension differs from the Newtonian spacial dimensions. That requires a basic familiarity with field theory. Due to the constraint of a constant speed of light, an opposing sign is assigned to the time component of the metric. This also leads to time dilation and spacial length contraction phenomena.

Answer 3

You can have simple or complete, not both. Make up you mind. The premises or special relativity are simple, but you won't understand what they imply without a complete development of the Lorentz Transformations:

1. The speed of light is the same for all observers.
2. Space is isotropic, homogeneous, and time invariant.

That's it. There is no more. All else follows.

Answer 4

There really isn't an easy answer. You need the physics, and an understanding of the weak force, gravity and the other forces, and understanding of the unified theory, to fill in all of the blanks. In theory, light speed is the speed of time, and to exceed it would change the time frame you are in. I would recommend Hawking, Einstein and Sagan as reading materials to better answer your question. An understanding of more than one discipline is required.