Relativity has been used for a long time (at least since Galileo). It is the idea that the laws of physics are the same to different observers moving at different velocities. An experiment should be the same on a lab in a moving train as it is in a lab on solid ground.
By the 1900s, though, the theory of electricity and magnetism appeared not to obey relativity. The speed of light was constant no matter who measured it, which contradicts Galileo's relativity. If a guy on a train measures something moving with velocity c, it makes no sense that a guy on the ground measures the same thing. Or does it? Einstein reconciled relativity with the constancy of the speed of light by allowing space and time to be different for different observers. For this to work, time has to pass more slowly and lengths have to contract (relative to other observers) as you approach the speed of light (relative to these other observers). Simultaneous events (for me) might not appear simultaneous for someone else.
2007-10-19 00:15:20
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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This is much too complex a subject to permit of an answer here. You would be best advised to obtain a book and to read it carefully. Do not be over-influenced by most of the 'answers' as submitted; they can be quite misleading (or even wrong!) and may take your thinking in an entirely wrong direction. For example, Einstein's theory (there are two, in fact) is NOT E=mc^2
What better book could you read than Einstein's own popular book: "Relativity. The Special and the General Theory". Methuen & Co. Ltd. It's not a difficult book to read!
2007-10-19 02:03:42
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answer #2
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answered by clausiusminkowski 3
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Einstein's theory generalized Galilean relativity from only mechanics to all laws of physics including electrodynamics. To stress this point, Einstein not only widened the postulate of relativity, but added the second postulate - that all observers will always measure the speed of light to be the same no matter what their state of uniform linear motion is.
2007-10-18 23:49:56
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answer #3
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answered by Marcus Paul 3
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I can try.
My understanding of it is quite limited, however this could be an advantage, as I won't overcomplicate - trust me!
Einstein stated, just over 100 years ago, that E=mc^2
That means that Energy=mass x speed of light squared.
Consequences of this are that energy divided by mass is the speed of light squared. Amazingly, this meant for the first time that people began to realise that as the speed of light is approached, an amazing set of things would happen to matter. This includes time slowing down (which has since been proved by doing experiments on muons), and infinite energy being required to further accelerate an object, meaning that the speed of light is unobtainable for anything with any mass at all.
2007-10-18 23:55:53
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answer #4
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answered by chippyminton91 3
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in case you cant understand the words used then whats the factor? the words used are complicated cos the concepts are complicated till you do understand what those words recommend you will in no way understand the thought ("expertise" demands an perception as to what its all approximately, there is not any way a baby might have that perception so there is not any factor attempting to describe it to them. it would be like attempting to describe calculus to somebody who dont even understand uncomplicated maths) you are trying to bounce in on the tip devoid of understanding the place the thought comes from i might recommend you start up through attending to appreciate what the words recommend and how einstein got here up with the thought (you dont might desire to appreciate each and each of the math) that would supply you a miles greater effective undestanding of what its all approximately than any that could settle for right here.
2016-12-29 17:50:10
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answer #5
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answered by ? 4
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Stay away from your cousins.
2007-10-18 23:49:16
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answer #6
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answered by Twistedfirestarter 3
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