RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

Name: Lester Ian Lepaopao Score:

Course Section: CED-10-601A Rating:

Week 1 Task
DIRECTION: You will be watching three separate videos and asked to answer briefly the
follow-up questions about the videos.
1.1 Reference Frames and Principles of Relativity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng6ANMGNlpg&list=PL9jo2wQj1WCPvSAfQkKODyJo47d7tyXMr

1. What is reference frame?

A reference frame is a place from which motion is observed and measured. With this,
an object may have different velocities relative to different reference frames. Moreover,
an observer in a particular reference frame can be describe the motion of an object
using quantities like its position, displacement, velocity, speed, and acceleration.
Reference frame can be described by a Cartesian coordinate system for which an
observer is at rest with respect to the origin (Serway & Jewett, 2014).
2. What are the two types of reference frames and how do they differ from each other?
When describing the motion of something, we observed how it moves relative to
something else. Hence, motion requires a reference frame (an observer, origin, and axes).
The two types of reference frames are inertial and non-inertial reference frames. The
main difference between the two is depends on the observer's “point of view” because
when we give a description of motion and force, it depends on our POV.
When our frame of motion has zero acceleration or is moving with a constant velocity,
it is called an inertial reference frame. In an inertial frame, force causes an object to
accelerate in accord with Newton’s laws. When our reference frame is accelerated—
observing fictitious forces and motions,—it is called a non-inertial reference frame.
3. Enumerate 3 examples of objects that are moving in each type of reference frame.
Examples of Inertial Reference Frames
1. A bus moving with constant velocity.
2. A hiker stands on the edge of a cliff.
3. A boy sitting at the center watching car race.

(1) (2)

(3)

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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

Examples of Non-Inertial Reference Frames

1. Runners competing for medals.
2. A driver driving forklift.
3. A girl at the carousel.

(1) (2) (3)

4. In your own words, how would you explain the principle of relativity to those who are
not familiar with it?
To explain the principle of relativity, we need to understand first the concept of inertial
reference frame; it is one in which an object is observed to have no acceleration when no
forces act on it. Any reference frame with constant velocity with respect to an inertial
frame must also be an inertial frame. Therefore, there’s no absolute inertial reference
frame (DiSalle, 2020).
With this notion, we can conclude that an object moving with uniform velocity must
be identical to an object which is in a stationary state. This idea reflects the principle of
Galilean relativity which states that:

"The laws of mechanics must be the same in all inertial reference frames."
To grasp this relativity principle, let's consider the picture below that illustrates the
equivalence of the laws of mechanics in different inertial reference frames.

The truck moves in a constant velocity with respect to the ground. Suppose a boy in
the truck throws a ball straight up and if air resistance is neglected, he observes that the
ball moves in a vertical path as shown above. The motion of the ball appears to be
precisely the same as if the ball were thrown by a person at rest on the Earth. Whether
the truck is at rest or in uniform motion, law of universal gravitation & equations of
motion under constant acceleration are still obeyed.
On the other hand, let's place ourselves as an observer on the ground. We can see the
path of the ball as a parabola as illustrated whereas the boy in the truck sees the ball
move in a vertical path. Indeed, two observers watch the path of a thrown ball and
obtain different results.

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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

Although the two observers disagree on certain aspects of the situation, we can all
agree on the validity of Newton’s laws and on the results of applying appropriate
analysis to the observations. Hence, it is true that in any (and all) inertial frames, laws of
mechanics are still the same.
5. Explain in your own words the meaning of “All inertial reference frames are equivalent”.
The statement equates that all inertial frames are absolutely identical in all physical
experiments or mechanical performances. By definition, laws of motion of Sir Newton
reigns in all inertial frames (Fitzpatrick, 2006). Therefore, if I take an experiment in a
moving bus or on the ground, I can observe that the results obey the law of mechanics.

1.2 Michelson-Morley Experiment and Null Result

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui0WPRTVkNM&list=PL9jo2wQj1WCPvSAfQkKODyJo47d7tyXMr&index=3

1. What is ether and where did this idea come from?

Because light travels in waves, it was then assumed that something in space 'vibrates'
and able to be a medium for propagation—a mysterious something is called ether, which
is thought to fill all space and to serve as a frame of reference attached to space itself.
2. What is the main objective of the Michelson-Morley experiment?
A famous experiment designed to navigate small changes in the speed of light was
first performed in 1881 by Albert A. Michelson then later repeated under different
conditions by Michelson, himself together with Edward W. Morley (1838–1923). The result
of the experiment contradicted the ether hypothesis (Case Western Reserve University,
n.d). The experiment was designed to determine the velocity of the Earth relative to
that of the hypothetical ether.
3. What is the basis of the Michelson-Morley experiment in your own words?
The basis of the experiment was the thought that ether is relative to the Sun. It is also
believed that Earth moving through the ether at speed is equivalent to the ether flowing
past the Earth in the opposite direction with speed. This ether blowing in the direction
opposite the direction of the Earth’s motion should cause the speed of light measured in
the Earth frame change as the light approaches.
4. What does the result of the Michelson-Morley experiment and its implications?
The result of the experiment shows that there's no change in velocity of light. The
negative (null) results of the Michelson–Morley experiment is not only contradicted the
ether hypothesis, but it also lean to the idea that it is impossible to measure the absolute
velocity of the Earth with respect to the ether as reference frame.
Experiment give implications to Albert Einstein where he offered a postulate for his
special theory of relativity that places quite a different interpretation on the null result.
And as a result, the idea of an ether in which waves travel became unnecessary.
5. What does it mean that the absolute inertial frame of reference did not exist?
Michelson-Morley experiment gave a null result which answers "no" to the question on
the existence of the absolute inertial reference frame. Einstein proposed that there's
constancy in the speed of light in any frames (which discussed to his special theory of
relativity), and by that, absolute inertial reference frame is out of the box to considered.

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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

1.3 Special Theory of Relativity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df-YoX_jVu0&list=PL9jo2wQj1WCPvSAfQkKODyJo47d7tyXMr&index=3

1. How does the result of the Michelson-Morley experiment affect the concepts of
Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetism?
Maxwell is known for his electromagnetic theory in which his equations predicted that
electromagnetic waves propagate at the speed of light (3×108 m/s) and firmly believed
that light is an electromagnetic wave. He asserted that light, as a wave, traveled through
empty space to get from the Sun to our Earth known as ether.
The null result of Michelson-Morley experiment drastically affect Maxwell's notion
about light and ether. Due to the experiment, we neglect the idea that light is an
electromagnetic wave and existence of ether. However, Maxwell's calculation for speed
of light is absolutely correct and profoundly interpreted through the works of Einstein.
Today, we accepted that light was not a continuous wave, but consisted of localized
particles.
2. How does Albert Einstein reconcile the discovery in Michelson-Morley experiment and
the Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetism?
Although the Michelson–Morley experiment was performed before Einstein published
his work on relativity (Case Western Reserve University, n.d), it is not clear whether or not
Einstein was aware of the said experiment. The null result of the experiment can be
readily seen within the foundation of Einstein’s theory and agrees that the premises of
the Michelson–Morley experiment were incorrect. The results of the Michelson-Morley
experiment led Einstein to develop the theory of special relativity. The key premise to
special relativity is that the speed of light (called c = 186,000 miles per sec) is constant
in all frames of reference, regardless of their motion.
On the other hand, we know that electricity and magnetism had been unified by
Maxwell’s theoretical work, and the electromagnetic waves predicted by Maxwell’s
equations had been discovered and investigated in the experiments conducted by Hertz
(Krane, 2012). Maxwell's theory introduces an ether and the crucial constant c, the speed
of light in the rest frame of the ether (Hall, 2008). Einstein was able to use the
assumption that Maxwell's equations are invariant in form under the Lorentz
transformations to find the relations of electric and magnetic fields in two inertial frames.

3. What are the two postulates of Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity and how it is
important to understand these two postulates in your own perception?
Einstein proposed a theory that removed classical physics’ difficulties and at the
same time completely altered our notion of space and time. He based his special theory
of relativity on two postulates:
1. The principle of relativity: The laws of physics must be the same in all inertial
reference frames.
2. The constancy of the speed of light: The speed of light in vacuum has the same value,
c = (3×10 8 m/s)m/s, in all inertial frames, regardless of the velocity of the observer or the
velocity of the source emitting the light.
It is important to understand these postulates because the two served as foundation
and backbone of the special theory of relativity. It also clarifies the distinction from the
Galilean relativity, Newtonian mechanics, and give cogent ideas about inertial reference
frames. I think grasping the idea of these postulates will help us to go deeper in general
relativity, spacetime, time dilation and other great works of Einstein.

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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

Reflective Questions:
(Upon watching the videos, what are the other questions that you want to ask and plans on how to find
answers to these questions?)

1. How special theory of relativity differs from general theory of relativity?

2. How Einstein's famous equation, E =mc 2 , unlocked the secret of atomic bombs
specifically the 1945 Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan?
3. If no body moves through a space, does time still flow there? Can time proceed
without change?
After answering this task, this has been the reflective questions of mine emerged out of
my curiosity and my realization while doing the task. In a nutshell, to answer my provided
reflective questions needs intensive reading about respective topics. One of my plans is to
surf over the Internet reliable reading materials. Currently, I have bunch of downloaded
e-books about Modern Physics and make a time to read & take down note necessary
details. I also consider saving YouTube videos playlist that tackles about relativity, Einstein,
and the like. Other than that, I want nurture independent learning and immerse myself to
the course.

Additional References:
Case Western Reserve University (n.d.) MICHELSON-MORLEY EXPERIMENT. Retrieved from
https://case.edu/ech/articles/m/michelson-morley-experiment
DiSalle, R. (2020). Space and Time: Inertial Frames. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/spacetime-iframes/
Fitzpatrick, R. (2006). The relativity principle. Retrieved from
https://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/em/lectures/node108.html#:~:text=All%20inerti
al%20frames%20are%20totally,form%20in%20all%20inertial%20frames.
Hall, G. (2008). Maxwell's electromagnetic theory and special relativity.
Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2007.2192
Krane, K. (2012). Modern Physics (3rd ed.). United States of America.
ISBN 978-1-118-06114-5
Serway, R., & Jewett, J. (2014). Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics
(9th ed., pp. 96). United States of America. ISBN-13: 978-1-133-95405-7

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