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{{wiktionary|theory of relativity}}
] projection of a ] analogy of space-time curvature described in General Relativity.]]

The '''theory of relativity''', or simply '''relativity''', refers specifically to two theories: ] ] and ].

The term "relativity" was coined by ] in ] to emphasize how special relativity (and later, general relativity) uses the ].

== Special relativity ==

{{main|Special relativity}}

Special relativity is a theory of the structure of ]. It was introduced in ]'s ] paper "]". Special relativity is based on two postulates which are contradictory in ]:
# The laws of physics are the same for all observers in ] relative to one another (]'s ]),
# The ] in a ] is the same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion or of the motion of the source of the ].

The resultant theory has many surprising consequences. Some of these are:
* ]: Moving ]s tick slower than an observer's "stationary" clock.
* ]: Objects are observed to be shortened in the direction that they are moving with respect to the observer.
* ]: two events that appear simultaneous to an observer A will not be simultaneous to an observer B if B is moving with respect to A.
* ]: ''E'' = ''mc''², energy and mass are equivalent and transmutable.

The defining feature of special relativity is the replacement of the ]s of classical mechanics by the ]s. (See ] of ] and ]).

== General relativity ==
{{main|General relativity}}
General relativity is a theory of gravitation developed by Einstein in the years ]–].
The development of general relativity began with the ], under which the states of ] and being at rest in a ] (for example when standing on the surface of the Earth) are physically identical. The upshot of this is that ] is ]: In other words an object in free fall is falling because that is how objects move when there is no ] being exerted on them, instead of this being due to the force of ] as is the case in ]. This is incompatible with classical mechanics and ] because in those theories inertially moving objects cannot accelerate with respect to each other, but objects in free fall do so. To resolve this difficulty Einstein first proposed that spacetime is ]. In ], he devised the ] which relate the curvature of spacetime with the mass, energy, and momentum within it.

Some of the consequences of general relativity are:
* Time goes slower at lower gravitational potentials. This is called ].
* Orbits ] in a way unexpected in Newton's theory of gravity. (This has been observed in the orbit of ] and in ]s).
* Even rays of ] (which are weightless) ].
* ], and the far parts of it are moving away from us faster than the ]. This does not contradict the theory of special relativity, since it is space itself that is expanding.
* ], in which a rotating mass "drags along" the space time around it.

Technically, general relativity is a ] theory of ] whose defining feature is its use of the Einstein field equations. The solutions of the field equations are ]s which define the ] of the spacetime and how objects move intertially.

== References and links ==
See the ] and the ]. For information on the silent film produced on this subject, see '']''.

== External links ==
{{Wikisourcepar|Relativity: The Special and General Theory}}
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* — An open access, peer-referred, solely online physics journal publishing invited reviews covering all areas of relativity research.
* — A complete online course on Relativity.
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* — A basic introduction to concepts of Special and General Relativity, as well as astrophysics.
* — A short course offered at MIT.
* from the University of New South Wales.
* Animation for Pirelli Ralativity Award.
*

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Revision as of 21:47, 27 September 2007

Two-dimensional projection of a three-dimensional analogy of space-time curvature described in General Relativity.

The theory of relativity, or simply relativity, refers specifically to two theories: Albert Einstein's special relativity and general relativity.

The term "relativity" was coined by Max Planck in 1908 to emphasize how special relativity (and later, general relativity) uses the principle of relativity.

Special relativity

Main article: Special relativity

Special relativity is a theory of the structure of spacetime. It was introduced in Albert Einstein's 1905 paper "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies". Special relativity is based on two postulates which are contradictory in classical mechanics:

  1. The laws of physics are the same for all observers in uniform motion relative to one another (Galileo's principle of relativity),
  2. The speed of light in a vacuum is the same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion or of the motion of the source of the light.

The resultant theory has many surprising consequences. Some of these are:

  • Time dilation: Moving clocks tick slower than an observer's "stationary" clock.
  • Length contraction: Objects are observed to be shortened in the direction that they are moving with respect to the observer.
  • Relativity of simultaneity: two events that appear simultaneous to an observer A will not be simultaneous to an observer B if B is moving with respect to A.
  • Mass-energy equivalence: E = mc², energy and mass are equivalent and transmutable.

The defining feature of special relativity is the replacement of the Galilean transformations of classical mechanics by the Lorentz transformations. (See Maxwell's equations of electromagnetism and introduction to special relativity).

General relativity

Main article: General relativity

General relativity is a theory of gravitation developed by Einstein in the years 1907–1915. The development of general relativity began with the equivalence principle, under which the states of accelerated motion and being at rest in a gravitational field (for example when standing on the surface of the Earth) are physically identical. The upshot of this is that free fall is inertial motion: In other words an object in free fall is falling because that is how objects move when there is no force being exerted on them, instead of this being due to the force of gravity as is the case in classical mechanics. This is incompatible with classical mechanics and special relativity because in those theories inertially moving objects cannot accelerate with respect to each other, but objects in free fall do so. To resolve this difficulty Einstein first proposed that spacetime is curved. In 1915, he devised the Einstein field equations which relate the curvature of spacetime with the mass, energy, and momentum within it.

Some of the consequences of general relativity are:

Technically, general relativity is a metric theory of gravitation whose defining feature is its use of the Einstein field equations. The solutions of the field equations are metric tensors which define the topology of the spacetime and how objects move intertially.

References and links

See the special relativity references and the general relativity references. For information on the silent film produced on this subject, see The Einstein Theory of Relativity.

External links

Template:Link FA Template:Link FA

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