Lecture PowerPoints

Chapter 2
Physics: Principles with
Applications, 6th edition
Giancoli

© 2005 Pearson Prentice Hall

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Reference Frames and Einstein’s Special Theory
of Relativity

• Inertial reference frame – reference

frame in which Newton’s First Law of
Motion holds (every object continues in its
state of rest, or of uniform velocity in a
straight line, as long as no net force acts
on it).
 Reference Frames and Einstein’s Special Theory
of Relativity

Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity

•First Postulate: The laws of physics have the
same form in all inertial reference frames (relativity
principle)
•Second Postulate: Light propagates through
empty space with a definite speed of c
independent of the source or observer. (constancy
of the speed of light). [The speed of light is the
same in ALL inertial reference frames]
Reference Frames and Einstein’s Special Theory
of Relativity

Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity

•Note that the effects of the Special Theory of
Relativity are too small to be measured unless an
object is travelling at some large fraction of the
speed of light, c, or 2.99 x 1010 m/s (these are
referred to as relativistic velocities).
•So the equations that show the consequences of
the Special Theory of Relativity reduce to the
classical equations at normal velocities
Reference Frames and Einstein’s Special Theory
of Relativity
Consequences of the Special Theory of Relativity

Source: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html
 Reference Frames and Einstein’s Special Theory
of Relativity
Consequences of the Special Theory of Relativity
•Time dilation – clocks moving relative to an
observer are measured by that observer to run
more slowly (as compared to clocks at rest)
•Example: Twin 20 year old astronauts. One
travels at very high speed to a distant star and
returns. The other remains on Earth. According to
the Earth twin, only 1 year might pass for the
traveler, while 20 years would have passed for the
earthbound twin, who would now be 40 compared
to her twin’s age of 21 years.
 Reference Frames and Einstein’s Special Theory
of Relativity
Consequences of the Special Theory of Relativity
•Length contraction – objects moving relative to
an observer are measured by that observer to be
shorter in the direction of travel (as compared to
objects of the same length at rest)
•Example: A painting hangs on the wall of a
spaceship passing Earth at 0.9 c. It is 1.50 m wide
by 1.00 m tall.
•As seen by an observer on Earth, the painting
would appear to be only 0.65 m wide

Length contraction
 Reference Frames and Einstein’s Special Theory
of Relativity
Consequences of the Special Theory of Relativity
•Energy: Particles that are moving have kinetic
enegy. Even when a particle is at rest, it has
energy. The formula for determining that energy is
E = mc2.
 Reference Frames and Einstein’s Special Theory
of Relativity
Consequences of the Special Theory of Relativity
•Momentum: masses moving relative to an
observer are measured by that observer to have
more mass (as compared to objects at rest).
•Example: the mass of an electron in an
accelerator used for cancer therapy has a velocity
of 0.98 c. Its momentum would be 5.0 times the
momentum of an electron at rest.
 Reference Frames and Einstein’s Special Theory
of Relativity
Lorentz Transformation
The Lorentz Transformation shows the changes that occur
classical kinematics due to the Special Theory of Relativity
 Reference Frames and Einstein’s Special Theory
of Relativity
Summary
•All inertial reference frames obey the same laws of physics
•The speed of light in empty space, c, does not change
when the reference frame changes
•No object can move faster than the speed of light
•At everyday velocities, the consequences of special
relativity are too small to be noticed or measured
•At relativistic velocities, an observer will see that clocks,
lengths in the direction of travel, momentum and energy will
be different than those at rest with respect to the observer.
•Even at rest, objects with mass have energy equal to their
mass x c2