SHS

PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Modified Strategic Intervention Materials

DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Author: Grace Navelgas, Rowena L. Carlos

Cover Art Illustrator: Erich D. Garcia
Reviewer and Editor: Paz I. Canlas
Layout Artist Charmie Ann G. San Juan

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Zenia G. Mostoles EdD, CESO V, Schools Division Superintendent

Celia R. Lacanlale PhD, Chief CID
Paz I. Canlas, Education Program Supervisor in Science

Quarter 2Week 5
Physical Science
Modified Strategic Intervention Materials
Senior High School – Quarter 2: Week 5: Consequences of the postulates of special
relativity.
Postulates of general relativity

Development Team

Author: Grace Navelgas

Rowena L. Carlos
Cover Art Illustrator: Erich D. Garcia
Language Reviewer: Paz I. Canlas
Content Editor: Paz I. Canlas
Layout: Charmie Ann G. San Juan

Management Team

Zenia G. Mostoles EdD, CESOV, Schools Division Superintendent

Celia R. Lacanlale PhD, Chief CID
Paz I. Canlas, Education Program Supervisor in Science

Department of Education – Division of Pampanga

Office Address: High School Boulevard, Brgy. Lourdes,
San Fernando City, Pampanga
Landline Number: (045) 435-27-28
Email Address: pampanga@deped.gov.p
 Title Card: Explain Consequences
of the postulates of special relativity

Guide Card
A. Introduction

Oh, hi there, Noah! About your problem,

no worries.
I am going to help you.
Are you ready?
Let’s begin.

Hello, Teacher Grace!

I really have a hard time understanding this topic in Physical Science about special relativity.
Can you help me with this?

B. Learning Competency:

Explain the consequences of the postulates of special relativity (e.g., relativity of simultaneity, time
dilation, length contraction, mass-energy equivalence, and cosmic speed limit.

Subtask:
● Explain and describe how simultaneity, time dilation, and length contraction are a relative concept for
observers in different inertial frames in relative motion.

C. Pre-test (Word Hunt)

Directions: Locate and circle the twelve (12) given words in the grid. Words appear straight across,
backward straight across, up and down, down and up, and diagonally.

1
D. Review

According to the THEORY OF SPECIAL RELATIVITY (Albert Einstein, 1905), it is impossible to say in
an absolute sense whether two distinct events occur at the same time if those events are separated in space.

Based on two postulates:

- The RELATIVITY PRINCIPLE: the laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames.

- The CONSTANCY OF THE SPEED OF LIGHT: the speed of light, c = 299,792 km/s, is the same for all
inertial observers, independent of their velocity of motion relative to the source of light.

SPECIAL = only applies to inertial reference frames, those for which the state of motion is not influenced by
external forces.

CONSEQUENCES OF THE POSTULATES

OF SPECIAL RELATIVITY
From the two principles of special relativity, some important consequences are derived:

A. Relativity of Simultaneity

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 Simultaneous events may appear to coincide in time for one observer but not for another because of
differences in their spatial positions.

Imagine two observers, one seated in the center of a speeding train car, and another standing on the
platform as the train races by. As the center of the car passes the observer on the platform, he sees two bolts
of lightning strike the car - one on the front, and one on the rear. The flashes of light from each strike reach
him at the same time, so he concludes that the bolts were simultaneous, since he knows that the light from
both strikes traveled the same distance at the same speed, the speed of light. He also predicts that his friend
on the train will notice the front strike before the rear strike, because from her perspective on the platform the
train is moving to meet the flash from the front, and moving away from the flash from the rear.

But what does the passenger see? As her friend on the platform predicted, the passenger does notice
the flash from the front before the flash from the rear. But her conclusion is very different. As Einstein
showed, the speed of the flashes as measured in the reference frame of the train must also be the speed of
light. So, because each light pulse travels the same distance from each end of the train to the passenger, and
because both pulses must move at the same speed, he can only conclude one thing: if he sees the front strike
first, it actually happened first.

Whose interpretation is correct - the observer on the platform, who claims that the strikes happened
simultaneously, or the observer on the train, who claims that the front strike happened before the rear strike?
Einstein tells us that both are correct, within their own frame of reference. This is a fundamental result of
special relativity: From different reference frames, there can never be agreement on the simultaneity of
events.

The relativity of simultaneity is the concept that simultaneity – whether two events occur at the same
time – is not absolute, but depends on the observer’s frame of reference.

B. Time Dilation

Time dilation is the phenomenon where two objects moving relative to each other (or even just a
different intensity of gravitational field from each other) experience different rates of time flow. It is an
actual difference of elapsed time between two events as measured by observers moving relative to each
other.

Time dilation, in the theory of special relativity, the “slowing down” of a clock as determined by an
observer who is in relative motion with respect to that clock. In special relativity, an observer in inertial (i.e.,
nonaccelerating) motion has a well-defined means of determining which events occur simultaneously with a
given event. A second inertial observer, who is in relative motion with respect to the first, however, will
disagree with the first observer regarding which events are simultaneous with that given event. (Neither
observer is wrong in this determination; rather, their disagreement merely reflects the fact that simultaneity is
an observer-dependent notion in special relativity.)

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 A closely related phenomenon predicted by special relativity is the so-called twin paradox. Suppose
one of two twins carrying a clock departs on a rocket ship from the other twin, an inertial observer, at a
certain time, and they rejoin at a later time. In accordance with the time-dilation effect, the elapsed time on
the clock of the twin on the rocket ship will be smaller than that of the inertial observer twin—i.e., the non-
inertial twin will have aged less than the inertial observer twin when they rejoin.

In this sense, if two observers moving relative to one another and measuring the time interval between
two events will come up with different values for the time interval. Again, it makes no sense to ask “Who is
right?, since they both are right in their own frames of reference.

C. Length Contraction

Have you ever driven on a road that seems like it goes on forever? If you look ahead, you might say you
have about 10 km left to go. Another traveler might say the road ahead looks like it’s about 15 km long. If
you both measured the road, however, you would agree. Traveling at everyday speeds, the distance you both
measure would be the same. You will read in this section, however, that this is not true at relativistic speeds.
Close to the speed of light, distances measured are not the same when measured by different observers.

Since time is not absolute and indeed dilated as a function of speed, you may also guess that length is
not a constant any more when one considers the implications of relativity. We will see that the length, L, of a
moving object is contracted relative to its length in its own rest frame, Lo, its proper length.

Here we can see two versions of a spaceship traveling very fast to a far-away celestial object. In A, we
see things from the perspective of an observer on Earth, and in B, we see things from the perspective of
someone onboard the ship.

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 One thing all observers agree upon is relative speed. Even though clocks measure different elapsed
times for the same process, they still agree that relative speed, which is distance divided by elapsed time,
is the same. This implies that distance, too, depends on the observer’s relative motion. If two observers
see different times, then they must also see different distances for relative speed to be the same to each of
them.
If we measure the length of anything moving relative to our frame, we find its length L to be
smaller or contracted (B) than the proper length L 0 (A) that would be measured if the object were
stationary.

The Earth-bound observer would see the ship as being much shorter than the astronaut does. This
discrepancy in length, neatly explains how the two observers could perceive different rates for the
passage of time. It also explains how fast-moving particles can defy certain expectations because at such
speed, time slows down and the distance traveled contracts.

The bottom line here is that moving objects are shorter. They don't just appear shorter – they really
are! Again a mind-bending consequence of the postulates of special relativity.

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 Now, I will give you some meaningful and engaging activities which provide ways to motivate you in your
learning session to ensure that you will learn efficiently. Are you ready? So, let’s get to it!

Activity Card
A. Activity 1

Directions: Draw a real-life scenario inside the box at the previous page which simply shows the Relativity of
Simultaneity and explain it on the blank below.
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

B. Activity 2

Directions: Watch the video clip regarding time dilation and after that, answer the following questions. Write
your answers on the space provided.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWKn_Punrjk&fbclid=IwAR0wuWSgwKfn53Cs7yEYsDLfjOKhqDbKmXiEg_Uqui_WzWHCOeuB1RNkh50

Guide Questions:

1. Based from the experiment seen on the video clip, special relativity indicates that, for an observer in an
inertial frame of reference, a clock that is moving relative to him is measured to tick _____________ than
a clock that is at rest in his frame of reference.

2. How will you compare and describe the two clocks click rate located inside the car and inside the house,
respectively?
_____________________________________________________________________________________

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 3. In your own words and perspectives, how will time dilation occur?
_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. Based from the experiment seen on the video clip, what can you infer about the velocity which causes
time dilation with respect to an observer?
_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. How will you state the relationship between the relative velocity and the time dilation between one
another? What would happen to the time rate when an object is traveling at the speed of light?
_____________________________________________________________________________________

C. Activity 3

Situation: Suppose an astronaut, such as the twin discussed in Simultaneity and Time Dilation, travels so fast
that v = 30.00. He travels from the Earth to the nearest star system, Alpha Centauri, 4.300 light years (ly) away as
measured by an Earth-bound observer.

Figure (a) shows that the Earth-bound observer measures the proper distance between the Earth and the Alpha
Centauri.

Directions: Redraw the illustration for (b) showing how the astronaut observes a length contraction, since the
Earth and the Alpha Centauri move relative to his ship. He can travel this shorter distance in a smaller time (his
proper time) without exceeding the speed of light.

(b)

Let us enhance what you have learned from the preceding discussions. You can work in pairs in
answering these guide questions.

Enrichment Card
Conceptual Questions:

1. Explain the term “time is relative”.

_________________________________________________________________________________

2. Does time equal the speed of light?

3. What is time dilation in the special theory of relativity?

_________________________________________________________________________________

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 4. Does your body's aging rate depend on how fast or how slow the time moves?
_________________________________________________________________________________

5. Do time dilation and length contraction occur at ordinary speeds, say 90 km/h?

6. Discuss how everyday lives would be different if the speed of light were only 25 m/s.
_________________________________________________________________________________

7. Why does time get slower near a black hole?

_________________________________________________________________________________

8. Why is speed of light constant in all reference frames?

_________________________________________________________________________________

How much have you learned?

Now, it’s time to organize what you have learned… I will make it easy just for you because you are now my
buddy. Some choices are given for you to trail for the correct answer.

Assessment Card

Test I. Definition/Description. Directions: Write a word or a phrase that describes or gives in detail to
state a precise meaning of the following terms. Write your answer on the space after each item.

1. speed of light :

2. time dilation :

3. length contraction :

4. relativity of simultaneity :

5. special relativity :

Test II. Multiple-Choice. Directions: Circle the letter that corresponds to the best answer.
6. It is the amount by which measured time interval is greater than corresponding proper time interval.

a. time dilation

b. time interval

c. time limitation

d. time parameter

7. According to Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, laws of physics can be formulated based on _____.

a. inertial frame of reference

b. non-inertial frame of reference

c. both a and b

d. quantum state

8. According to the Theory of Relativity, the speed of light in a vacuum is ______ for all observers?
8
 a. different

b. the same

c. dependent on the motion of the source of light

d. dependent on the relative motion of the observer

9. The faster an object is moving in relation to an observer, the ______ it will appear to an observer.

a. longer

b. shorter

c. slower

d. the same regardless of speed

10. Length contraction occurs because _______________________________.

a. Velocities are not the same in different frames of references.

b. Two events simultaneous in one frame of reference will not necessarily be simultaneous in
another frame.

c. Two events simultaneous in one frame of reference will always be simultaneous in another frame.

d. The laws of physics are dependent on their frame of reference.

Test III. True/False. Circle the letter T if the statement is true; circle the letter F otherwise.

1. The faster a space ship is flying the shorter it will appear to people on T F
board the ship.
2. According to special relativity, it is possible to time travel only at T F
relativistic speeds, and not into the past.
3. In time dilation, because moving clocks run fast, time slows down for an T F
observer at rest.
4. If events E1 and E2 are simultaneous in an inertial frame, then no T F
observers stationary in the same frame will regard E 1 as occurring before
E2.
5. The proper time between events E 1 and E2 is the time measured on clocks T F
at rest with respect to E1 and E2.
6. An observer at rest relative to a moving object measures the object’s T F
proper length.
7. An object will be shorter in length if the observer is moving with the T F
object than if the object is moving relative to the observer.
8. A clock, designed to tick each second, is moving past you at a uniform T F
speed. You find the moving clock to be ticking quickly.
9. The relativity of simultaneity is relative. T F

10. According to the effects of length contraction, from the viewpoint of an T F

observer stationary with respect to a body moving at a uniform speed
relative to the observer, the body is not contracted.

Today, I would like to hear from you about your reflection on making connections between your own
learning experiences and educational concepts.
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 Reflection Card

Three (3) Things I Learned From the Lesson

1. 2. 3.

Two (2) Interesting Facts About the Topic

1. 2.

One (1) Question I Still Have in My Mind

1.

Reference Card

ELECTRONIC SOURCES:

● http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/SpeedOfLight/speed_of_light.html
● http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/rosalba/astro2030/SpecialRelativity.pdf
● http://www.hep.vanderbilt.edu/~maguirc/Physics116aSP02/lecture15sp02.pdf
● http://www.nelson.com/nelson/school/secondary/science/0176259880/quizzes/p12ch11.htm
● https://opentextbc.ca/universityphysicsv3openstax/chapter/length-contraction/
● https://www.britannica.com/science/simultaneity
● https://www.britannica.com/science/week
● https://www.ducksters.com/science/quiz/theory_of_relativity_questions.php
● https://www.quora.com/How-can-you-explain-time-dilation-to-a-common-person
● https://www.shmoop.com/special-relativity/quiz-1.html
● https://www.shmoop.com/special-relativity/quiz-1-true-false.html
● https://www.tcd.ie/Physics/study/current/undergraduate/lecture-notes/py1t10/JFSTR3and4.pdf
● https://www.thoughtco.com/time-dilation-2699324
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wteiuxyqtoM
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=DWKn_Punrjk&fbclid=IwAR0wuWSgwKfn53Cs7yEYsDLfjOKhqDbKmXiEg_Uqui_WzWHCOeuB
1RNkh50

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 Answer Card
GUIDE CARD
Pre-test (Word Hunt)

ACTIVITY CARD
Activity 1 (Drawing and explanations from the students may vary.)
Possible Answer:

● Clocks in airplanes click at different rates from clocks on the ground.

● Putting a clock on a mountain (thus elevating it, but keeping it stationary relative to the ground-based
clock) results in slightly different rates.

Activity 2

Guide Questions:
1. slower
2. the two clock clicks at different rates
3. time dilation occurs when one of the objects is moving at nearly the speed of light, but it manifests at even
slower speeds
4. velocity is relative
5. (a) the faster the relative velocity, the greater the time dilation between one another with the rate of time
reaching zero as one approaches the speed of light
(b) the time rate will stop
(b) the time rate will stop

Activity 3

ENRICHMENT CARD
Conceptual Questions:

1. Possible Answer: The phrase time is relative is used to mean that different people and different places
are not necessarily locked onto the same time. Time is relative” means the rate of change of time is
not same for every frame of reference.

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2. Possible Answer: No, time does not equal the speed of light. In fact, time (measured in the SI unit
seconds) and speed (measured in SI unit meters per second) are different and distinct physical
quantities.

3. Possible Answer: In the theory of relativity, time dilation states that the speed of the clock becomes
slower than usual when the observer moves in relative velocity with that clock.

4. Possible Answer: To explain the solution well, we will consider a typical time-travel story: A twin
travels to Sirius (the brightest star in our night-sky) at close to the speed of light and thus he
experiences time differently than his other twin on earth. From this perspective, aging depends on
how fast or slow time moves. This is a safe statement in that it allows us to comment on the aging of
the twins from many different inertial references.

5. Possible Answer: Yes. (Time dilation and length contraction do occur but the effects are so small that
they are not measurable.)

6. Possible Answer: If the speed of light was 25 m/s, then we would see relativistic effects all the time.

7. Possible Answer: To a distant observer, clocks near a black hole would appear to tick more slowly
than those further away from the black hole. Due to this effect, known as gravitational time dilation,
an object falling into a black hole appears to slow as it approaches the event horizon, taking an
infinite time to reach it. Time slows down near the Event Horizon of a Black Hole due to its extreme
gravity.

8. Possible Answer: Light moves at the same speed independent of the motion of the source. In Albert
Einstein's original treatment, it is based on two postulates: (1) the laws of physics are invariant (i.e.,
identical) in all inertial frames of reference (i.e., non-accelerating frames of reference); and (2) the
speed of light in a vacuum is the same for all observers, regardless of the motion of the light source or
observer. Because light waves do not need a medium to propagate and hence the speed of light
remains the same to all observers.

Test I. Definition/Description

1. c = 299,792 km/s (3.00 x 108 m/s) is the same for all inertial observers, independent of their
velocity of motion relative to the source of light

2. “slowing down” of a clock as determined by an observer who is in relative motion with respect to
that clock

3. decrease in observed length of an object from its proper length

4. distant simultaneity – whether two spatially separated events occur at the same time – is not
absolute, but depends on the observer's reference frame

5. experimentally confirmed physical theory regarding the relationship between space and time

Test II

6. a 7. a 8. b 9. b 10. A

Test III. True/False

11. F 12. T 13. T 14. T 15. T 16. T 17. F 18. F 19. F 20. T

REFLECTION CARD
Reflection (Answers from the students may vary.)

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 Title Card: Consequences of
special relativity
(continuation)

Since you have understood the first three consequences, can we continue our session on the last two
topics of the consequences of special relativity?

Good day, Teacher Grace!

I was having fun with our session yesterday, and I have learned a lot about the topics that you
discussed.

Yes, of course, ma’am!

I am eager to listen
to your discussion.

Guide Card
13
 B. Learning Competency:

Explain the consequences of the postulates of special relativity (e.g., relativity of simultaneity, time
dilation, length contraction, mass-energy equivalence, and cosmic speed limit.

Subtask:
● Explain and describe mass-energy equivalence and cosmic speed limit.

C. Pre-test

Multiple-Choice. Directions: Circle the letter that corresponds to the best answer.

1. Which of the following is Einstein’s mass-energy relation?

a. Ek = (m – m0)c2
b. E = mc2
c. E2 – p2c2 = m02c4
d. Ek = mv2/c2

2. At higher energy, the bodies have ________________.

a. large mass
b. small mass
c. smaller weight
d. zero mass

3. Total amount of mass and energy together in a system is _____________.

a. increasing
b. decreasing
c. zero
d. constant

4. The mass-energy relation implies that, if energy is released from the body as a result of conversion, then the
rest mass of the body will _____.
a. increase
b. decrease
c. both a and b
d. no change

5. In special relativity, the energy of a body at rest is determined to be equal to ____ which is available for
conversion to other forms of energy.
a. mc
b. mc2
c. mv
d. vt
6. A consequence of the mass-energy equivalence is that if a body is stationary, it still has rest energy which
corresponds to its _____________.
a. friction
b. momentum
c. rest mass (inertial mass)
d. speed of light

7. What can you say about the total energy when the body is in motion compared to its rest energy and its total
mass?
a. The total energy of the body is lesser than its rest energy, and lesser than its total mass.
b. The total energy of the body is equivalent to its rest energy, and lesser than its total mass.

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 c. The total energy of the body is greater than its rest energy, and equivalent its total mass.
d. The total energy of the body is greater than its rest energy, and greater than its total mass

8. What implication existed from the idea of mass-energy equivalence?

a. Mass is not related to energy.
b. Mass can be created out of energy.
c. Mass is a different entity from energy.
d. Mass and energy are different variables.

9. Which is faster: the speed of sound or the speed of light?

a. sound
b. light
c. both a and b
d. none of these

10. What is the speed of light coming from the front of spaceship traveling at 100,000 km/s?
a. around 200,000 km/s
b. around 300,000 km/s
c. around 400,000 km/s
d. around 500,000 km/s

11. It is the absolute speed of light in a vacuum.

a. cosmic ray
b. cosmic speed limit
c. electromagnetic wave
d. transverse wave

12. It is the distance the light travels in the course of a year which is also a measure of both time and distance.
a. axis
b. celestial equator
c. light year
d. parallax

13. How much amount of energy is needed in order to reach the speed of light?
a. no energy
b. lesser amount of energy
c. infinite amount of energy
d. greater amount of energy

14.Describe the relationship between the velocity of the particle and its mass when in motion.
a. The faster the particle moves, the lighter it becomes.
b. The faster the particle moves, the weaker it becomes.
c. The faster the particle moves, the stronger it becomes.
d. The faster the particle moves, the more massive it becomes

15.What would happen to the mass of a particle when its velocity is equal to the speed of light?
a. The particle would have a limited mass.
b. The particle would have a greater mass.
c. The particle would have a definite mass.
d. The particle would have an infinite mass.

D. Review

According to the THEORY OF SPECIAL RELATIVITY (Albert Einstein, 1905), it is impossible to say in
an absolute sense whether two distinct events occur at the same time if those events are separated in space.

15
 Einstein’s theory was based on two key principles:
● The principle of relativity: The laws of physics don’t change, even for objects moving in inertial (constant
speed) frames of reference.
● The principle of the speed of light: The speed of light is the same for all observers, regardless of their
motion relative to the light source.

From the two principles of special relativity, some important consequences are derived:

A. Relativity of Simultaneity
B. Time Dilation
C. Length Contraction

CONSEQUENCES OF THE POSTULATES

OF SPECIAL RELATIVITY (cont’d)
D. Mass-Energy Equivalence

Einstein correctly described the equivalence of mass and energy as “the most important upshot of the special
theory of relativity”. According to Einstein's famous equation E = mc 2, the energy (E) of a body is numerically
equal to the product of its mass (m) and the speed of light (c) squared. It is customary to refer to this result as “the
equivalence of mass and energy”, or simply “mass-energy equivalence”, because one can choose units in which c
= 1, and hence E = m. An important consequence of E = mc 2 is that a change in the rest-energy of a body is
accompanied by a corresponding change to its inertial mass.

Mass-energy equivalence states that mass and energy are one and the same. This idea was not actually put
forth by Einstein, but he was the first to describe an accurate relationship for it in his theory of special relativity,
where he first wrote down this famous equation. The c 2 term is a tremendously large quantity, so this means that a
small amount of mass corresponds to a large amount of energy. This equation is only representative of an object at
rest, so this energy is called the “rest energy” of an object.

In physical theories prior to that of special relativity, mass and energy were viewed as distinct entities.
Furthermore, the energy of a body at rest could be assigned an arbitrary value. In special relativity, however, the
energy of a body at rest is determined to be mc 2. Thus, each body of rest mass possesses mc 2 of “rest energy”,
which potentially is available for conversion to other forms of energy. The mass-energy relation, moreover,
implies that, if energy is released from the body as a result of such a conversion, then the rest mass of the body
will decrease. Such a conversion of rest energy to other
forms of energy occurs in ordinary chemical reactions, but
much larger conversions occur in nuclear reactions. This is
particularly true in the case of nuclear fusion reactions that
transform hydrogen to helium, in which 0.7 percent of the
original rest energy of the hydrogen is converted to other
forms of energy. Stars like the Sun shine from the energy
released from the rest energy of hydrogen atoms that are
fused to form helium.

A consequence of the mass-energy equivalence is that if

a body is stationary, it still has some internal or intrinsic
energy, called its rest energy, corresponding to its rest mass.
When the body is in motion, its total energy is greater than
its rest energy, and equivalently its total mass (also called
relativistic mass in this context) is greater than its rest mass.
This rest mass is also called the intrinsic or invariant mass
because it remains the same regardless of this motion, even for the extreme speeds or gravity considered in special
and general relativity.

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 The implications of such an idea are overwhelming. Mass can be created out of energy, it just takes a lot of
energy to do this. In fact, the entire universe was born in the Big Bang when a whole lot of energy was turned into
mass.

For example, burning a gallon of gasoline (3.78 liters) releases about 132 million joules of energy, which is
enough energy to make 14 ng of mass. This is roughly the mass of a single particle of very finely ground flour.

The mass–energy formula also serves to convert units of mass to units of energy (and vice versa), no matter
what system of measurement units is used.

E. Cosmic Speed Limit

When it comes to speed limits, the ultimate one set by the laws of physics themselves is the speed of light. As
Albert Einstein first realized, everyone looking at a light ray sees that it appears to move at the same speed,
regardless of whether it's moving towards you or away from you. No matter how fast you travel or in what
direction, all light always moves at the same speed, and this is true for all observers at all times. Moreover,
anything that’s made of matter can only approach, but never reach, the speed of light. If you don’t have mass, you
must move at the speed of light; if you do have mass, you
can never reach it.

But practically, in our Universe, there’s an even

more restrictive speed limit for matter, and it’s lower
than the speed of light. Here's the scientific story of the
real cosmic speed limit.

The speed of light in a vacuum is an absolute cosmic

speed limit. It is an absolute constant. Nothing can go
faster than the speed of light, which is 3.0 x 10 8 meters
per second. According to the laws of physics, as we
approach light speed, we have to provide more and more
energy to make an object move. In order to reach the
speed of light, you would need an infinite amount of
energy, and that’s impossible!

It is shown by Einstein in his theory of Special

Relativity that it is impossible to accelerate a particle to a
velocity greater than 3.00 x 10 8 m/s because it would take
an infinite amount of energy. This means that from a
point on the kinetic energy you “give” the particle in
order to accelerate would actually become mass (due to
the conservation of energy). So one reaches the
conclusion that the faster the particle moves the heavier it
gets, for a velocity equal to the speed of light the particle would have an infinite mass.

Now, I will give you some meaningful and engaging activities which provide ways to motivate you in your learning session to ensure
that you will learn efficiently. Are you ready? So, let’s get to it!

Activity Card
17
A. Activity 1
Directions: Provide explanations of the following situation below in relation to the consequences of mass-energy
equivalence.

Hints:
1. The molecules containing phosphorus in a matchhead
rearrange themselves and combine with oxygen to form new
molecules.
2. These molecules have very slightly less mass than the
separate phosphorus and oxygen containing molecules by
about one part in a billion.

burning matchstick

1. _______________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________

B. Activity 2
Directions: Draw a famous superhero you know which you think can travel at the speed of light, or travel close to
the speed of light, or travel faster than the speed of light.

Let us enhance what you have learned from the preceding discussions. You can work in pair in answering these guide
activity/questions.

Enrichment Card
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Conceptual Questions:

1. What is Einstein’s famous equation?

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

Concept: As per Einstein's mass-energy equivalence, mass can be changed into energy and vice versa.
This principle is a form of the conservation law of energy that means energy neither can be created
nor it can be destroyed.

2. Can energy be converted into mass?

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

Concept: The equation E = mc2 states that the amount of energy possessed by an object is equal to its
mass multiplied by the square of the speed of light. In other words, energy can be converted to mass
and mass to energy.

3. Why can’t we travel at the speed of light?

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

Concept: It is widely accepted that there is nothing that can travel that a speed greater than light due
to theory of relativity. As the speed of the object increases and starts to reach appreciable fractions of
the speed of light (c), the portion of energy going into making the object more massive gets bigger
and bigger.

4. Why does mass increase with velocity (speed of light)?

_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

Concept: As an object increases in speed, so does the amount of energy that it has, this energy is what
we refer to as “the increase in mass”. This explains why nothing can travel faster than light – at or
near light speed.

How much have you learned?

Now, it’s time to organize what you have learned… I will make it easy just for you because you are now my
buddy. Some choices are given for you to trail for the correct answer.

Assessment Card

Test I. Fill in the Boxes. Directions: Fill in the white boxes with the missing letters to form a word or terms
being defined in the preceding statement.

1. It is an equation in Einstein's theory of special relativity that expresses the equivalence of

mass and energy.

19
2. It is the mass of a body regarded relativistically as energy.

3. It is the energy equivalent to the mass of a particle at rest in an inertial frame of reference,
equal to the rest mass times the square of the speed of light.

4. It is the mass of an object measured by its resistance to acceleration.

5. It is the ability to do work and can be converted to other forms of energy (mass)
relativistically.

6. It is a process where two or more nuclei combine to form an element with a higher atomic
number (more protons in the nucleus), e.g., the process that makes the sun shine, and
hydrogen bomb explode.

7. It is a theory in physics that concerns the relationship between space and time which are
linked for objects that are moving at a consistent speed in a straight line.

8. It is a fundamental physical constant that is the speed at which electromagnetic radiation

propagates in a vacuum and that has a value of 3.00 x 108 meters per second – symbol c.

9. It is the speed of light in a vacuum, thus, nothing can go faster than 3.00 x 10 8 m/s.

10. He determined that the laws of physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers, and
showed that the speed of light in a vacuum is the same no matter the speed at which an
observer travels.

Today, I would like to hear from you about your reflection on making connections between your own
learning experiences and educational concepts.

Reflection Card
Three (3) Things I Learned From the Lesson

20
1. 2. 3.

Two (2) Interesting Facts About the Topic

1. 2.

One (1) Question I Still Have in My Mind

1.

It’s time for us to acknowledge the following authors who have great contributions in organizing this
Strategic Intervention Materials.

Reference Card

ELECTRONIC SOURCES:

● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass%E2%80%93energy_equivalence
● https://energyeducation.ca/encyclopedia/Mass-energy_equivalence
● https://twitter.com/THENEWSMT/status/1017438772751945728/photo/1
● https://www.britannica.com/science/E-mc2-equation
● https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2018/10/09/the-universe-has-a-speed-limit-and-it-
isnt-the-speed-of-light/#3bbc4ee75549
● https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/571886852663256355/
● https://www.quora.com/Why-does-the-universe-have-a-speed-limit
● https://www.scienceworld.ca/stories/cosmic-speed-limit-why-cant-we-travel-light-speed/
● https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/jan/12/einstein-theory-of-relativity-speed-of-light

Answer Card

21
Title Card: Postulates of General
Relativity

22
 Good day, new normal students! Are
you interested to know why general relativity
was one of the major intellectual achievements of
the twentieth century? If it was music, we would compare
it to the great symphonies of Beethoven or Mahler.

If you wanted to learn more, you can try to answer the learning
activities. Have fun!

Guide Card
At the end of this Science journey, the activities will teach you to:

1.1 Describe General Relativity

1.2 State the relationship of General Relativity and Gravity
1.3 Explain the fundamental principle of general Relativity
1.4 Exhibit appreciation on the importance of understanding General Relativity

What is General Relativity?

According to this theory, massive objects cause a distortion in space-time. In Einstein’s theory of general
relativity, gravity is a distortion of space-time. Particles follow the straightest possible paths in that space-time.
But because space-time is now distorted, even on those straightest paths, particles accelerate as if they were under
the influence of what Newton called the gravitational force.

23
 What I Know

Pre-Test
Take a simple quiz. Write the letter of your choice before each number.
_____1. How does Earth’s gravity affect our Global Positioning system satellite clocks?
a. It doesn’t
b. They run slower than clocks on the Earth’s surface
c. They run faster than clocks on the Earth’s surface
d. It cancels out the time dilation due to the satellite’s speed

_____2. What is Frame Dragging?

a. The moving of space around a rotating mass
b. The dragging of time in an intense gravitational field
c. The compression of space in a black hole
d. The pulling of space away from orbiting planets
_____3. Who is the famous scientist that came up with the theory of Relativity?
a. Albert Einstein
b. Aristotle
c. Isaac Newton
d. Galileo Galilei

_____4. It states that gravity and acceleration are the same thing.
a. Curved Spacetime
b. Non-Euclidean Geometry
c. Gravitational Lensing
d. Equivalence Principle

_____5. What happens to an object’s light cone as it reaches the event horizon?
a. It collapses into a singularity
b. It tilts 90 degrees towards the center of the black hole
c. It inverts and you can’t get out
d. It converts space into time

Review
In the previous lesson, you have learned that Einstein’s theory of
Special Relativity is based on two postulates:

Relativity Principle: The laws of nature are the same in

all inertial reference frames. The speed of light in a vacuum is
the same in all inertial frames. How about the theory of general
relativity which is also called the generalization of the theory of
special relativity.

24
 The General Theory of Relativity is, as the name indicates, a generalization of the Special Theory of
Relativity. It is certainly one of the most remarkable achievements of science to date, it was developed by
Einstein with little or no experimental motivation but driven instead by philosophical questions: Why are inertial
frames of reference so special? Why is it we do not feel gravity’s pull when we are freely falling? Why should
absolute velocities be forbidden but absolute accelerations be accepted?

Activity Card
Activity 1
WORD Search
Directions: Circle 5 words that appear straight across, backward straight across, up and down, down
and up, and diagonally. Write the words inside the box below.

R E L A T I V I T Y S F M Z A H
D D S C C Y O P D N M O A V K L
C H F N N C V H N I P W A E N M
B L S P A C E T I M E X B I C V
S W X V M K F L Y P E T R U W N
G F S E I N S T E I N G Y P R N
C N O E V F S H J R W Y B N M R
Q A A N I V B G H Y A S W T M I
Y P L D G H G R A V I T Y H Q S
I Q F H Y L N W A Y I W E P T H
Activity 2
READING COMPREHENSION:

Direction: Read the passage below, then answer the conceptual questions.

GENERAL RELATIVITY
Having discussed Einstein’s theory of Special Relativity, we now turn our attention (briefly) to
Einstein’s theory of General Relativity, which includes Special Relativity as a limiting case of no gravity.
General Relativity describes gravity as the curvature of space and tine (of spacetime). We have already seen
how Special Relativity leads to some interesting effects; space and time blend together, events that are
simultaneous for one observer are not simultaneous for another observer, and so on. General Relativity also
includes all of these effects, as well as more. For instance, gravity can affect
the flow of time as well-time slows down for observers in a strong
gravitational field. General Relativity also predicts the existence of some
very strange phenomena such as black holes.

25
 Conceptual Questions

1. What is Einstein’s Equivalence Principle?

______________________________________________________________________

2. What is General Relativity?

__________________________________________________________________

3. What is geodesic, and why is it important in General Relativity?

_________________________________________________________________

4. How will you describe the fundamental principles of General Relativity?

_________________________________________________________________

Enrichment Card
Enrichment Card 1
Examine the diagram and answer the questions.

D
D

1. How will you describe the weight of a man in each situation?

A. ______________________________________
B. ______________________________________

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 C. ______________________________________
D. ______________________________________

2. What is being postulated by Einstein in this situation?

____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

Enrichment Card 2

Identify the word being described in each number.

_____________1. This idea essentially states that gravity and acceleration are the same thing.

_____________2. One that is accelerating.

_____________3. Gravitational Time Dilation, Gravitational lensing, Black Holes, Gravitational waves,
Mercury’s Precession are proofs of ____________.

_____________4. The bending of light through curved spacetime caused by the presence of a massive body.

_____________5. It is the first proof of General Relativity.

Assessment Card

Assessment # 1
1. This idea essentially states that gravity and acceleration are the same thing.
a. Curved Spacetime
b. Non-Euclidean Geometry
c. Gravitational Lensing
d. Equivalence Principle
2. General relativity explains what natural phenomenon?
a. Radiation
b. Gravity
c. Electricity
d. Magnetism
3. One of the general relativity’s key components is the idea that space and time are part of a single,
four-dimensional continuum. What is this continuum called?
a. Spacetime
b. The interstellar medium
c. gravity
d. weight
4. Who is the famous scientist that came up with the theory of relativity?
a. Albert Einstein
b. Aristotle
c. Isaac Newton
d. Galileo
5. According to the Theory of Relativity, the speed of light in a vacuum is ______ for all
observers?
a. Different
b. Dependent on the motion of the source of the light
c. The same

27
 d. Dependent on the relative motion of the observer

Assessment # 2
A. Match Column A with Column B.
A B
1. _________Geodesics A. the laws of nature for
all reference frames
2. _________ It is is possible to get from one
event to another travelling slower that the B. An object’s gravitational mass can vary
speed of light, the two events: while its inertial mass remains constant

3. __________ Equivalence Principle C. Gravitational mas = inertial mass

4. __________ It cannot be predicted by
General Relativity
5.___________ Inertial Mass
6. __________ Gravitational Mass
7.___________ Principle of Relativity
D. Object’s susceptibility to the gravitational
force
E. have timelike separation
F. Object’s resistance to acceleration
G. Shortest paths between any two events in
spacetime.

Reflection Card
Three (3) things I learned from the lesson

1 2 3

Two (2) Interesting facts

1 2
 

One (1) question I still have

28
 Reference Card

● https://quizlet.com/406248906/test

● Andrew Fraknoi (Foothill College), David Morrison (NASA Ames Research Center), Sidney C. Wolff
(National Optical Astronomy Observatory) with many contributing authors. Textbook content produced
by OpenStax College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 license. Download
for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/astronomy).

Answer Card
Pre-Test
1. C 2. A 3. A 4.A 5.D

Activity 1

RELATIVITY, SPACETIME, EINSTEIN, ACCELERATE, GRAVITY

Activity 2
1. Equivalence principle states that gravity and acceleration are the same thing.
2. General Relativity describes gravity as the curvature of space and tine (of spacetime).
3. The geodesics for planet Earth are the great circles. These are the circles with the same radius as
the Earth
4. General relativity follows from Einstein’s principle of equivalence: on a local scale it is
impossible to distinguish between physical effects due to gravity and those due to acceleration.
Gravity is treated as a geometric phenomenon that arises from the curvature of space-time.

Enrichment Card 1
1.
A. Normal Weight
B. Lighter than normal
C. Heavier than normal
D. No apparent Weight
2. What Einstein postulated is that there is no experiment she can perform inside the sealed laboratory
to determine whether she is floating in space or falling freely in a gravitational field. 1 As far as she is
concerned, the two situations are completely equivalent.29 This idea that free fall is indistinguishable
from, and hence equivalent to, zero gravity is called the equivalence principle.
For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:
Department of Education – Division of Pampanga

Office Address: High School Boulevard, Brgy. Lourdes,

San Fernando City, Pampanga

Landline: (045) 435-27-28

Email Address: pampanga@deped.gov.ph

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