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In physics, the special theory of relativity, or special relativity for short, is a scientific theory of the relationship between space and time. In Albert Einstein 's 1905 paper, On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies , the theory is presented as being based on just two postulates : [ p 1 ] [ 1 ] [ 2 ]
English: This file is the special relativity lecture of the Wikiversity:Special relativity and steps towards general relativity course. It is in pdf format for convenient viewing as a fullscreen, structured presentation in a classroom.
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Special relativity is a theory of the structure of spacetime. It was introduced in Einstein's 1905 paper "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (for the contributions of many other physicists and mathematicians, see History of special relativity). Special relativity is based on two postulates which are contradictory in classical mechanics:
In special relativity, Newton's second law does not hold in the form F = ma, but it does if it is expressed as F = d p d t {\displaystyle \mathbf {F} ={\frac {d\mathbf {p} }{dt}}} where p = γ( v ) m 0 v is the momentum as defined above and m 0 is the invariant mass .
1. First postulate (principle of relativity) The laws of physics take the same form in all inertial frames of reference.. 2. Second postulate (invariance of c) . As measured in any inertial frame of reference, light is always propagated in empty space with a definite velocity c that is independent of the state of motion of the emitting body.
According to the first postulate of the special theory of relativity: [3] Special principle of relativity: If a system of coordinates K is chosen so that, in relation to it, physical laws hold good in their simplest form, the same laws hold good in relation to any other system of coordinates K' moving in uniform translation relatively to K.
The theory of special relativity plays an important role in the modern theory of classical electromagnetism.It gives formulas for how electromagnetic objects, in particular the electric and magnetic fields, are altered under a Lorentz transformation from one inertial frame of reference to another.