Relativity

Relativity is a theory of the relationship between space and time. Developed by Albert Einstein in

the early 20th century, it revolutionized our understanding of the universe's structure and behavior.

The theory is divided into two parts: special relativity and general relativity.

Special Relativity, introduced in 1905, deals with objects moving at constant velocity, especially at

speeds close to that of light in a vacuum. It introduced the concept that space and time are

interwoven into a single continuum known as spacetime. Its most famous equation is \(E=mc^2\),

which describes the relationship between energy and mass.

General Relativity, published in 1915, is a theory of gravitation. It describes gravity not as a force,

as in classical mechanics, but as a curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy. This theory

has been confirmed through experiments like the bending of light around massive objects.

Time dilation is a difference in the elapsed time measured by two observers, due to the relative

velocity between them or difference in gravitational potentials between their locations. For example,

a clock moving relative to an observer will be measured to tick slower than a clock that is at rest with

respect to the observer.