DNHS SHS Department PHYSICAL SCIENCE Quarter 2

NAME: ____________________________ GR/SECTION: ______________DATE: _____________

Summative Test no 8. Theory of Relativity

I. Special Theory of Relativity

Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to explain how special relativity resolved the conflict between
Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell's electromagnetic theory.
Newtonian mechanics also known as classical mechanics has concepts that do not entirely agree with all
known theories in Physics like Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory but when Einstein presented his theory of
special relativity, the conflict between these two great ideas was resolved.
How did theory of special relativity resolve this conflict?
Newtonian or classical mechanics discusses the everyday motion of the objects of normal size around us
including the force that causes these motions. The concepts under Newtonian mechanics are mainly based on
ideas of Newton about motion which correctly describes the state of motion of an object whether at rest or
moving in a straight path and the forces that maintain and can cause changes in the body’s states of motion.
Maxwell’s electromagnetic theory consists of four formulas
gathered from the different works of Faraday and other
physicists that unites all the concepts of electricity and
magnetism and had the findings that electric and magnetic
fields spread as waves. In 1886, Hertz proved that these waves
really exist and the propagation speed of these waves can be
calculated using the formula:

Maxwell observed that the value of the above expression is

equivalent to the speed of light c (3.0 x 108 m/s) which implies that speed of light c must also be constant.
This is where the conflict between Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell’s theory starts.
If we consider a moving object of speed 100 m/s and placed a switched on flashlight in it, according to
Newtonian mechanics the speed of the light coming from the flashlight in this scenario would be 100 m/s + c
and this contradicts what Maxwell’s theory tells that speed of light is a constant value. Which is true between
these two concepts?
The theory of special relativity proposed by Einstein in 1905 explains the problems that involve motion of
frames of reference at constant linear velocity with respect to one another and is based on two postulates: (1)
the laws of Physics are the same in all inertial frames of reference moving with constant velocity relative to
one another and (2) the speed of light is the same in all inertial frames of reference. The second postulate
clearly tells that Maxwell’s idea is correct but does mean Newtonian mechanics is wrong? Not totally, but the
postulates of Einstein tell us that Newtonian mechanics has limitations in terms of its application. If we
consider moving objects with speed very small compared to the speed of light, Newtonian mechanics applies
like the speeds of a flying ball and running car but if we consider speeds that is close to the speed of light a
new concept must be included in order to supply the limit of Newtonian mechanics and that is the Lorentz
transformation the counterpart of the Galilean transformation of the Newtonian mechanics.

Key Points
Newtonian or classical mechanics tells that the measures speed of light should depend on the motion of the
observer.
Maxwell's electromagnetic theory tells that the value of the speed of light is constant.
Theory of special relativity tells that the speed of light is constant in all frames of reference.

Questions:
1. To which of the following can the concepts of Newtonian mechanics be applied to?
A. Objects with speed equal to the speed of light
B. Objects with speed much greater than the speed of light
C. Objects with speed much smaller than the speed of light.
D. Objects with speed twice the speed of light

2. At what rate do the EM waves travel according to Maxwell's electromagnetic wave theory?
A. 3.00×108ms−1 B. 6.00×108ms−1 C.3.00×10−8ms−1 D.6.00×10−8ms−1

3. Which of the following shows the conflict between Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell's electromagnetic
theory? Choose all that apply.
 A. Maxwell's electromagnetic theory tells that the speed of light depends on the speed of the observer.
B. Maxwell's electromagnetic theory tells that the speed of light is constant.
C. Newtonian mechanics tells that the speed of light depends on the speed of the observer.
D. Newtonian mechanics tells that the speed of light is constant.

4. Which among the following resolves the conflict between Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell's
electromagnetic theory?
A. Theory of special relativity C. Law of universal gravitation
B. Theory of general relativity D. Law of conservation of energy

5. Einstein theory of special relativity is based on what two postulates? Choose all that apply.
A. The laws of physics application change based on the condition of the observer.
B. The laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames of reference moving with constant velocity
relative to one another.
C. The speed of light depends on the speed of the observer.
D. The speed of light is constant in all inertial frame of reference.
6. Einstein theory of special relativity explains problems that involve frames of reference moving with which
of the following characteristics?
A. constant direction C. constant linear speed
B. constant linear acceleration D. constant linear velocity
7. Which of the following describes the speed of light according to Newtonian mechanics?
A. The speed of light depends on its source.
B. The speed of light depends on the speed of the observer.
C. The speed of light is constant.
D. The speed of light is infinite.
8. In resolving the conflict between Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell's electromagnetic theory, what
concepts of transformation was used?
A. Einstein transformation C. Lorentz transformatio
B. Galelian transformation D. Maxwell transformation

9. Which of the following correctly describes the statement: The speed of light is constant?
A. The statement is always true C. The statement is sometimes false
B. The statement is never true. D. The statement is sometimes true.

10. What method can be used to determine the distance of stars that are less than 300 light years away?
A. Parallax B. photometry C. spectroscopy D. standard candles