Galilean Relativity

Theories of Relativity Galilean transformation of velocities

(Special Theory of Relativity)
How come facts are relative while
laws are absolute?

TOPICS
? Who is right?
6 m/s
3 m/s
6 m/s
3 m/s

! Galilean Relativity
! Newtonian Physics
! Albert Einstein
! Special Relativity
Galileo Galilei Isaac Newton Albert Einstein

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
respective frames of reference.
Who is right?

Isaac Newton
 Newtonian Physics in the Galilean Relativity

The Aether* Dispute So came Einstein..

Is there an absolute frame of reference?

What do you know

about Albert Einstein?

Sagnac experiment
* also “ether” 6

Who is Albert Einstein? Who is Albert Einstein?

1879-1955 1879-1955

! born on March 14, 1879 ´I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.´
! Ulm, Germany
! Hermann and Pauline Einstein
! German Why does the needle do that? What pulls it to make it point to
the north? Why can’t I see the thing that pulls it?
! Jew
! denounced German citizenship
! a genius

7 8
 Who is Albert Einstein? Albert Einstein:
1879-1955
“What will someone experience when riding
along a photon?”
! had a terrible temper
! didn’t like it when people tell him things and expect to
take their word for it
! he hated school
! “He’ll never amount to nothing.”

“I don’t think the structure of the human skull is to be blamed for man’s inability to
understand the concept of infinity. He would certainly be able to understand it if
when young, and while developing his sense of perception, he were allowed to
venture out into the universe.”
– Mileva Maric
9

Newtonian Physics in the Galilean Relativity

Albert died with his brain left The Aether* Dispute

! and everything of his body, ashes. Is there an absolute frame of reference?

What if…
NONE?

11 * also “ether”
 Newtonian Physics in the Galilean Relativity

The Light Speed Problem

Galilean transformation doesn’t work for light!

Technical: The EM wave equation

is NOT INVARIANT with
Galilean transformation.`

Fundamental Properties of
Frames of Reference
the Universe
! space ! where a person happens to be standing
! time ! no such thing as an absolute frame of reference in our
! matter universe
! motion ! there is no place in the universe that is completely
stationary
! motion is relative

Science assumes that

these are there already!! Which observer is right?

15 16
 Frames of Reference First postulate

! The laws of physics are the same

for all inertial reference frames

Just because the laws of physics are constant, it does

From the point of view of someone standing
not mean that we will get the same experimental
alongside the tracks, how fast is the ball moving?
results in di" ering frames.

17 18

Frames of Reference Frames of Reference

How fast is the light traveling relative to the observer How fast does the light travel relative to you?
standing alongside the tracks?

19 20
 Second Postulate Special Relativity

! Regardless of whether you are flying in an airplane or Postulates: in ALL inertial frames of reference…
sitting on the couch, the speed of light would
! all laws of physics are the same.
measure the same to you in both situations.
! the speed of light is always the same in vacuum.
! Unexpected because most physical objects that we
deal with in the world add their speeds together

“Make light right”

- Einstein

21

Speed Speed of Light

! Speed is THE SAME regardless of the uniform
! Speed is the distance traveled in a motion!
given amount of time. ! Either something about our notion of distance and/
or something about our notion of time can be
skewed.
distance
! Both can be “skewed”
speed

time

23 24
 Special Relativity

Consequence of special relativity Time Dilation

Relativity of simultaneity

26

Special Relativity

Consequence of special relativity Time Dilation

Time dilation

28
 Special Relativity Special Relativity

The twin paradox Consequence of special relativity

Time slows down (longer) for those who are moving.
Length contraction
along the direction of motion ONLY!

Special Relativity Special Relativity

Consequence of special relativity Consequence of special relativity

Doppler effect

cruising at low speeds

cruising at 0.17c

*sound speed = 0.0000001c

 Special Relativity Special Relativity

Consequence of special relativity Consequence of special relativity

Velocity addition Inertia (mass and momentum)

Special Relativity Special Relativity

Consequence of special relativity Consequence of special relativity

Energy-mass equivalence Ultimate speed limit c

“Information can only

travel as fast as c.”
 Special Relativity

Consequences of special relativity In Summary

Relativity of simultaneity
Time dilation
Length contraction
Doppler effect
Velocity addition
Inertia (mass and momentum)
Ultimate speed limit c
Energy-mass equivalence

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“Only light is right.”

Summary - Einstein General Relativity
! There is no such thing as an absolute (completely
stationary) frame of reference. Next meeting
! The laws of physics apply equally to all frames of
reference.
! We observe differently because of the relativity of our
reference frames.
! The speed of light is constant in all frames of reference.
! There is no simultaneity of events between separate
frames of reference.

Truly, facts are relative; and the laws, absolute.

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 Quiz (1/8 pc of paper)
Write name, student no., date today.
0. Which of the following does not necessarily exist?
(space, ether, time)
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. In a sentence, write one of the postulates of Einstein that
enabled him to come up with the Special Theory of
Relativity.