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The special theory of relativity was proposed in 1905 by Albert Einstein in his article "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies." Some three centuries earlier, Galileo's principle of relativity had stated that all uniform motion was relative, and that there was no absolute and well-defined state of rest; a person on the deck of a ship may be at rest in his opinion, but someone observing from the shore would say that he was moving. Einstein's theory combines Galilean relativity with the 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.
This theory has a variety of surprising consequences that seem to violate common sense, but which have been verified experimentally. Special relativity overthrows Newtonian notions of absolute space and time by stating that distance and time depend on the observer, and that time and space are perceived differently, depending on the observer. It yields the equivalence of matter and energy, as expressed in the famous equation E=mc2, where c is the speed of light. Special relativity agrees with Newtonian mechanics in their common realm of applicability, in experiments in which all velocities are small compared to the speed of light.
The theory was called "special" because it applies the principle of relativity only to inertial frames. Einstein developed general relativity to apply the principle generally, that is, to any frame, and that theory includes the effects of gravity. Special relativity doesn't account for gravity, but it can deal with accelerations.
More on [ Special relativity ]
RT @S_Carnot: An excellent 'demonstration' of time dilation (special theory of relativity) begins @ 6min 44sec of this video: http://tin ...
jeffvermeer (Jeff Vermeer) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:04:36 -0000
RT @S_Carnot: An excellent 'demonstration' of time dilation (special theory of relativity) begins @ 6min 44sec of this video: http://tin ...
RT @Silversmyth: Theory of Special Relativity: Time is relative 2 the observer. (Is ths y my parents look lk they R driving so slow?)
RobynElfieOlson (RobynElfie Olson) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:08:07 -0000
RT @Silversmyth: Theory of Special Relativity: Time is relative 2 the observer. (Is ths y my parents look lk they R driving so slow?) <grin>
Theory of Special Relativity: Time is relative to the observer. (Is this why my parents look like they are driving so slow?)
Silversmyth (Julie Hiltbrunner) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 04:32:07 -0000
Theory of Special Relativity: Time is relative to the observer. (Is this why my parents look like they are driving so slow?)
RT @tweetmeme Lecture 1 | Modern Physics: Special Relativity (Stanford) http://bit.ly/8piPpY
7touch (7TouchGroup) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:48:22 -0000
RT @tweetmeme Lecture 1 | Modern Physics: Special Relativity (Stanford) http://bit.ly/8piPpY
Einstein's special and general theories of relativity are just "theoretical", apparently. Oh dear.
dreadpiratemick (Mick D. ) Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:31:03 -0000
Einstein's special and general theories of relativity are just "theoretical", apparently. Oh dear.
I favorited a YouTube video -- Special Relativity in a Nutshell http://youtu.be/NyR7s4BsGZw?a
Ins1debg (Dobromir Hristov) Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:10:13 -0000
I favorited a YouTube video -- Special Relativity in a Nutshell http://youtu.be/NyR7s4BsGZw?a
A Note on Relativity before Einstein - The first presentation of the Lorentz transformations, including the crucial time dilation, belongs to Larmor [1897].
Beneath the Foundations of Spacetime - Special relativity can be derived with moving rulers in such a way that the astonishing connection between space and time can be clearly understood.
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Breaking in the 4-vectors: the four-dimensional movement in gravitation, 1905–1910 - The four-dimensional language of physics originated with Poincaré, Minkowski, and Sommerfeld in their study of the geometric and symbolic expressions of gravitational action. 60 pages.
C-Ship - A short overview of special relativity, filled with relativistic ray traced images. Explains relativistic effects using a theoretical spaceship.
Einstein Light - A multimedia tutorial on Special Relativity. The introductory level takes 10 minutes, but has links to over 40 explanatory pages giving greater depth and breadth.
Meta Description: [ Relativity: Einstein's theory of special relativity in multimedia tutorial. The introductory level takes 10 minutes, but has links to over 40 explanatory pages giving greater depth and detail. Einstein Light has a simple introduction to Galilean relativity, electromagnetism and their incompatibil... ]
Einstein, Nordström and the Early Demise of Scalar, Lorentz Covariant Theories of Gravitation - Conventional thinking says that all Lorentz covariant gravitation theories are unacceptable. 74 pages.
Generalized relativistic velocity addition with spacetime algebra - The general problem of relativistic addition of velocities – and the successive application of noncollinear Lorentz boosts – is addressed.
Henri Poincaré and Relativity Theory - Who created the theory of relativity? This reference identifies the substantial contributions made to relativity theory by the mathematician Henri Poincaré. 254 pages.
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Henri Poincaré: A Decisive Contribution to Special Relativity - Henri Poincaré set up all the basic concepts of special relativity several years before Einstein published On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies (Annalen der Physik vol XVII 1905 p. 891-921). This is the short version of the story.
How Did Einstein Discover Special Relativity? - Dr. John Stachel speculates on how Einstein arrived at SRT. Dr. Stachel is Professor of Physics Emeritus and Director of the Center of Einstein Studies at Boston University.
How Do You Add Velocities in Special Relativity? - Here is the formula for adding velocities in special relativity when motion occurs in a single direction.
How Stuff Works: Special Relativity - The major principles of special relativity (SR) are discussed in an accessible way, via 5 segments, to help you understand the lingo and theories involved.
Meta Description: [ A fascinating article that helps you to understand the basics of special relativity! ]
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Imaginary in all directions - There is a preferred algebra of quaternions and complex numbers that is ideally suited to express the equations of special relativity and classical electrodynamics.
Is Travel Faster Than Light Possible? - Individual photons, which tunnel through a quantum barrier, can apparently travel faster than light.
Meta Description: [ Science questions and science expert answers in chemistry, physics, astronomy, mathematics, computers, environment, geology, medicine ]
Jim Doyle's Special Relativity Pages - A growing collection of pages on special relativity, including Special Relativity in under 15 Minutes!
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Lorentz Contraction and Accelerated Systems - Lorentz contraction in systems undergoing constant proper acceleration is proven to be completely self-consistent in the context of special relativity.
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Michelson, FitzGerald and Lorentz: the origins of relativity revisited - It is argued that the beginning of relativity theory occurred in early 1889, when G. F. FitzGerald wrote a letter to Oliver Heaviside concerning a result the latter had just obtained from Maxwell's equations.
Minkowski, Mathematicians, and the Mathematical Theory of Relativity - Minkowski claimed scientific priority for a great, new, geometric theory of relativity at the Cologne lecture of 1908, based largely on the work of Poincaré. Poincaré was purposely excluded from the meeting. 42 pages.
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Nothing but Relativity - There are many ways to derive the Lorentz transformation without invoking Einstein's constancy of light postulate. The path preferred in this paper restates a simple, established approach.
Quaternions in University-Level Physics Considering Special Relativity - The quaternions are an expansion of complex numbers and show close relations to numerous physically fundamental concepts (e.g. Pauli Matrices).
Relatively Simple - Special Relativity made Relatively Simple offers information and experiments about special relativity.
Relativistic contraction - Relativists consider it a very important exercise to have students decide how to measure the length of a rapidly moving object.
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Relativistic force transformation - Formulas relating one and the same force in two inertial frames of reference are derived directly from the Lorentz transformation of space and time coordinates.
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Relativistic Kinematics - This is how special relativity is taught by Dr. David Morin at Harvard University. 72 pages.
Relativity in its Historical Context - The discovery of special relativity was inevitable, given the momentous discoveries that preceded it.
Relativity Tutorial - An introduction to relativity using space-time diagrams.
Meta Description: [ an illustrated introductory guide to relativity ]
Santa at Nearly the Speed of Light - An estimate of the speed and distances covered by Santa Claus on Christmas night. The physics is unassailable. The article is hosted on the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory website.
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Space Measurements on a Rotating Platform - The age-old puzzling problem of Lorentz contraction on a rotating platform, i.e., Ehrenfest's paradox, is explained in its proper mathematical context.
Special Relativity - A brief overview of the theory of special relativity, and how it pertains to particles at SLAC (Stanford Linear Accelerator)
Special Relativity - This is chapter two of Christoph Schiller's 1000 page walk through the whole of physics, from classical mechanics to relativity, electrodynamics, thermodynamics, quantum theory, nuclear physics and unification. 61 pages.
Special Relativity - Tutorial explains about the postulates, paradox, simulaneity, time dilation, Lorentz transformation constructions, spacetime wheel, and the Fitzgerald-Lorentz contraction. Page includes some animated illustrations.
Special Relativity and Maxwell Equations - A self-contained summary of the theory of special relativity is given, which provides the frame for classical electrodynamics. 26 pages.
Special relativity article - From the free encyclopedia Wikipedia.
Special relativity lecture notes - A standard introduction to special relativity where explanations are based on pictures called spacetime diagrams.
Meta Description: [ lecture notes on special relativity ]
Special Relativity simulator - Warp is a program that illustrates the appearance of fast moving objects due to special relativity.
Student understanding of time in special relativity - A report on the ineffectiveness of standard university instruction in Einstein's concept of time by Rachel E. Scherr, Peter S. Shaffer, and Stamatis Vokos. 22 pages.
Synchronization Gauges and the Principles of Special Relativity - Synchronization functions set the mathematical clocks represented by the Lorentz transformation and resetting these clocks mathematically only produces a theory equivalent to special relativity in predicting empirical facts. 57 pages.
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The Twin Paradox in a Spatially Closed and Bounded Universe - Spatially compact spacetimes break global Lorentz invariance and define absolute inertial frames of reference.
Time Dilation - The gamma factor and time dilation can be derived using a very simple clock.
University Lectures on Special Relativity - Lecture notes on Special Relativity, prepared by J. D. Cresser, Department of Physics, Macquarie University. 44 pages.
Why No 'New Einstein'? - Followers of large well-supported research programs have lots of powerful senior scientists to promote their careers. People with the uncanny ability to ask new questions or recognize unexamined assumptions are often underappreciated.
Einstein Part Two |
