Topics

Theories of Relativity ● Galilean Relativity

(Special Theory of Relativity) ● Newtonian Physics
● Albert Einstein
How come facts are relative while ● Special Relativity
laws are absolute?

Galileo Galilei Isaac Newton Albert Einstein

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Galilean Relativity Galilean Relativity

Galilean tranformation of velocities

6 m/s

6 m/s 6 m/s 2 m/s

3 m/s 3 m/s

– 4 m/s

2 m/s – 6 m/s Æ – 4 m/s

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Newtonian Physics in the Galilean Relativity Newtonian Physics in the Galilean Relativity
7 m/s

Mechanics is the same for all inertial frames of

reference.
0 m/s
Both are right. They are entitled
7 m/s to their own analyses in their Galileo Galilei

? Who is right?
respective frames of reference.

Isaac Newton

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 Newtonian Physics in the Galilean Relativity Newtonian Physics in the Galilean Relativity

The Aether* Dispute The Aether* Dispute

Is there an absolute frame of reference?
Is there an absolute frame of reference?

What if…
NONE?

Sagnac experiment
* also “ether” 7 * also “ether” 8

Newtonian Physics in the Galilean Relativity

The Light Speed Problem Albert Einstein: “Light is right”

Galilean transformation doesn’t work for light! What will someone experience when riding
along a photon?

“I don’t think the structure of the human skull is to be blamed for man’s inability to
Technical: The EM wave equation
understand the concept of infinity. He would certainly be able to understand it if
is NOT INVARIANT with when young, and while developing his sense of perception, he were allowed to
Galilean transformation.` venture out into the universe.”
9 – Mileva Maric 10

Special Relativity

Special Relativity Consequences of special relativity

Postulates: in all inertial frames of reference… Relativity of simultaneity

● all laws of physics are the same. Time dilation
● the speed of light is always the same in vacuum. Length contraction
Doppler effect
Velocity addition
Inertia (mass and momentum)
Ultimate speed limit c
Energy-mass equivalence

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 Special Relativity Special Relativity

Consequence of special relativity Consequence of special relativity

Relativity of simultaneity Time dilation

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Special Relativity Special Relativity

Consequence of special relativity Consequence of special relativity

Length contraction

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Special Relativity Special Relativity

Consequence of special relativity Consequence of special relativity

Doppler effect Velocity addition

cruising at low speeds

cruising at 0.17c

*sound speed = 0.0000001c

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 Special Relativity Special Relativity

Consequence of special relativity Consequence of special relativity

Inertia (mass and momentum) Energy-mass equivalence

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Special Relativity

Consequence of special relativity General Relativity

Ultimate speed limit c Next meeting

“Information can only

travel as fast as c.”

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Quiz (1/4 pc of paper)

1. Which of the following is fundamentally
constant?
(speed of light, mass, energy)
2. Which of the following features becomes
larger and larger (infinite) as an object
reaches the speed of light?
(speed, mass, length)
3. Give one of the postulates of Einstein that
enabled him to come up with the Special
Theory of Relativity. 23