RELATIVITY

Module 8 – General Physics 2

Prepared by: Rheyniel Angeles Escobel, LPT

 01 02
THEORY OF WE LIVE IN AN
RELATIVITY EXPANDING
UNIVERSES
PHYSICS HELPS US
UNDERSTAND THE COSMOS

➢ Scientists claimed at the end of the 19th

century that they had discovered much of what
science needs to know. Newton's laws of
motion and his universal theory of gravitation,
Maxwell 's theoretical work in the unification of
electricity and magnetism, and the laws of
thermodynamics and kinetic theory employed
mathematical methods to explain a wide range
of phenomena successfully.
PHYSICS HELPS US
UNDERSTAND THE COSMOS

➢ A massive revolution shook the

field of physics at the turn of the
20th century. Planck provided the
basic ideas which led to the
quantum theory in 1900 and
Einstein formulated his special
theory of relativity in 1905.
PHYSICS HELPS US
UNDERSTAND THE COSMOS

➢ These theories inspired new

developments and theories in
the fields of physics of atomic,
nuclear and condensed
matter in a few decades' time.
 THEORY OF
01 RELATIVITY
THEORY OF RELATIVITY

➢ The Special Theory of Relativity was

coined and developed by Albert
Einstein in 1905 as an answer to the
long-debated conflict between
James Clerk Maxwell’s Theory of
Electromagnetism and Isaac
Newton’s three Laws of Motion.
Newtonian Mechanics
Newtonian Mechanics

➢ Newtonian mechanics is grounded on the use

of Newton’s three laws of motion. The
mechanics explains that space (distance),
time, and mass, are absolute. This means that
the distance between two objects and the
time that passes between two events does not
depend on the environment where the object
is in.
Newtonian Mechanics

➢ Furthermore, according to Newton’s

second law, objects in the environment
moves in a straight line; hence, the
change of location from one
environment to another environment
must register a straight line to other
straight lines.
 Maxwell’s
Electromagnetic Theory
of Light
Maxwell’s Electromagnetic
Theory of Light

➢ James Clerk Maxwell had

predicted that the electric
field, magnetic field, and light
are different representations
of the same phenomena or
event.
What is the conflict?

➢ There is only one conflict between the two

theories: according to Maxwell, light in a
vacuum moves at 186, 000 miles per second.
And it does not change for all observers and
situation. However, according to Newtonian
physics, all speeds are relative – meaning
speed depend on the observers, viewpoint and
situation.
Einstein & the Theory of
Relativity

➢ In 1905, Albert Einstein published his

observation about the differing ideas of
the two theories through the special
theory of relativity. His theory is based on
the observations of events from different
viewpoints.
Special Theory of
Relativity
SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY

Special Relativity Theory is a theory

which predicts how events are measured
with various observers who are in motion
with respect to an event. An “event” is
just a physical happening, e.g., exploding
firecrackers, a passing rocket, or a flash of
light.
SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY

Einstein’s special theory of relativity is

based on two principles:

➢ consistent law principle

➢ constancy of speed
SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY

Consistent Law Principle

It states that all motions are relative to the
selected reference frame or viewpoint. It means
that the motion of an object is based on the
observers’ viewpoint.
SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY

Constancy of Speed
The second principle in Einstein’s theory
deals with the speed of light. This is the constancy
of speed. He established that light moves in a
speed of 186,000 miles per second and is the
same for all observers’ viewpoint.
What’s so “special” about the Special
Relativity Theory?

Each observers’ reference frame, or

perspective, is a special type of reference
frame called inertial reference frame. This
means that the observer is at rest and
not accelerating from the observers’
perspective.
FRAMES OF REFERENCE

All is relative; it depends on the reference frame.

Different observers see different things because
they are in different frames of reference (that is,
they shift relative to each other). Special relativity
deals with observers traveling at constant speed;
this is much simpler than general relativity,
where observers can accelerate with respect to
each other.
FRAMES OF REFERENCE

If we ask A what velocity of B is, he will say it is at rest. But

if we ask the same question to C, he will say B is moving
with a velocity V in the positive X direction. So we can see
before specifying the velocity we have to specify in which
frame we are or in simple terms, we need to define a
frame of reference.
Postulates of the Special
Theory of Relativity
POSTULATES OF SPECIAL THEORY OF
RELATIVITY

The Special Relativity Theory has two postulates or

assumptions:

o The Relativity Postulate, where it is assumed that the

laws of physics are the same in all inertial reference.

o The Speed of Light Postulate, where it is assumed that

the speed of light in a vacuum is always the same.
Consequences of the
Postulates of the
Special Theory of
Relativity
RELATIVITY OF SIMULTEINITY

The relativity of simultaneity is a

concept in Special Relativity Theory which
says that if two events are separated in
space or position, it is absolutely
impossible for the two events to occur
simultaneously for two observers.
RELATIVITY OF SIMULTEINITY

Imagine a moving train with

lightbulb in the exact middle of its roof.
There are two observers observing this
event. Observer A inside the train, and
Observer B outside the train.
RELATIVITY OF SIMULTEINITY
RELATIVITY OF SIMULTEINITY
Time Dilation
TIME DILATION

Time dilation is the apparent difference

in the time interval between two events as
measured by two clocks. Albert Einstein
concluded that the faster you move through
space, the slower one moves through time.
This concept is best demonstrated through
another thought experiment.
TIME DILATION

There are two observers, A and B.

Observer A is inside a spaceship travelling
at a constant speed through space, while
Observer B is at rest on Earth. Observer A
has a “light clock,” which is composed of a
ball of light bouncing from a lower mirror
to an upper mirror.
TIME DILATION

For Observer A, the ball of light is

moving vertically, and the time it takes
for the ball of light to come from the
lower glass to the upper glass and then
back to the lower glass can be referred
to as 〖∆𝒕〗_𝟎 or the proper time.
TIME DILATION
TIME DILATION

But from the perspective of Observer B from

Earth, since the spaceship is moving at a constant
velocity v, the path travelled by the light is not
vertical, but will have a horizontal component to it.
The time interval for the ball of light to travel from
the lower mirror to the upper mirror and back to
the lower mirror from the perspective of Observer
B can be denoted as Δt, or the dilated time.
TIME DILATION
TIME DILATION

The relationship between the two time intervals

can be computed using the formula:
∆𝑡0
∆𝑡 =
𝑣2
1− 2
𝑐
where
∆𝑡 = dilated time interval/ time interval from Observer B’s perspective
∆𝑡0 = proper time interval/ time interval from Observer A’s perspective
𝑣 = the velocity of the moving object, in this case, the spaceship
𝑐 = speed of light at 300,000 km/s
Length Contraction
LENGTH CONTRACTION

Length contraction is the

phenomenon in which an observer at rest
would observe a moving object’s length to
be shorter than its proper length. In
everyday lives, length contraction, just like
time dilation, is negligible.
LENGTH CONTRACTION

The distance between Earth and the other planet

is 𝐿0 , which we will refer to as the proper length
as observed by Observer B. The Observer B on
Earth observes the ship moving at a constant
velocity, v.
LENGTH CONTRACTION

On the perspective of Observer A on the ship,

distance between Earth and the other planet will be
different, and will be denoted as 𝐿, which is the
contracted length of the journey, as observed by
Observer A.
LENGTH CONTRACTION

The relationship between 𝐿 and 𝐿_0, is given by the

equation:
𝑣2
𝐿 = 𝐿0 1− 2
𝑐

where:
𝐿 = contracted length/length from the perspective of Observer B
𝐿0 = proper length/length from the perspective of Observer A
𝑣 = speed of the ship
𝑐 = speed of light, (300,000 km/s)
Mass-Energy
Equivalence
MASS-ENERGY EQUIVALENCE

One of Albert Einstein’s most famous equation, the

mass-energy equivalence, is the principle which
concludes that anything that has a mass also has an
equal amount of energy.

𝑬 = 𝒎𝒄𝟐 where
E = energy
m = mass
c = speed of light
MASS-ENERGY EQUIVALENCE

Since the value of 𝒄 is very large, this equation

implies that everything that has mass, even those
at rest, have inherent energies (kinetic energy,
chemical energy, mechanical energy, nuclear
energy, etc.) in them. These energies can be
harnessed to do work, such as lighting a bulb, or
to run an engine.
General Theory of
Relativity
GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY

➢ Einstein 's general theory of relativity is also referred to as

Einstein's geometric theory of relativity. He argued that the
gravitational interaction does not come from gravity. He
explained that the interaction between the mass and the
geometry of time-space where the mass is located.

➢ Through integrating space and time, we can obtain a

fourth-dimensional "space-time" structure. Mass can now
be made to interact with space-time by telling it how to
curve and how to move.
GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY

➢ Einstein sees gravity as warping of the space-time structure

due to the pressure of a body of matter. As a result of the
distortion in the space-time structure the body almost
experiences an attractive force.
GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY

The general theory of relativity of Einstein has two postulates.

1. All laws of nature in every frame of reference have the same

type for observers, whether it is accelerated or not.

2. Within the vicinity of some point a gravitational field in the

absence of gravitational effects is similar to an accelerated frame
of reference.
GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY

Some of the theory's implications are time is altered by gravity. A

clock operates slower in the presence of gravity than when
gravity doesn't exist. Evidence of the theory is the very slight shift
in the orbit of Mercury
GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY

When gravity doesn't exist. Evidence of the

theory is the very slight shift in the orbit of
Mercury. The differences between the
Newtonian and the Einsteinian conceptions
of gravity become significant only in
regions where the escape velocity
approaches the speed of light. The
properties of extraordinarily dense
collapsed stars can be explained by the
general theory of relativity. Black holes, as
they called, are very dense that the escape
velocity exceeds that of light.
 WE LIVE IN AN
02 EXPANDING
UNIVERSE
How distances and speeds of far – off
objects are assessed?

1. Cosmic Distance Ladder

There are several ways to determine the distance

of far-off objects. The most common among
them is the cosmic distance ladder. No single
method can be used to measure the distances of
all heavenly bodies than can be seen from earth.
How distances and speeds of far – off
objects are assessed?
1. Cosmic Distance Ladder

So, the cosmic distance ladder is composed

of several methods that build on one
another. The data obtained in the first step
of the ladder is used in the succeeding step
and so on.
How distances and speeds of far – off
objects are assessed?

2. Parallax
Parallax is the apparent change in the position
of an object due to change in the way it is
perceived. It is used in measuring distance of
stars that are approximately 300 light years
away.
How distances and speeds of far – off
objects are assessed?

In measuring parallax,
astronomers take a picture of
a specific star, wait for six
months to pass so that the
Earth has moved two AU, and
then take a photo of the same
star to compare the change in
its position.
the image of the star will appear to shift slightly due to the
adjustment in the position of how the star was seen. These shifts serve as
the angles of an isosceles triangle. The base of the triangle is two AU, and
the length of the sides is equal to the distance of the Earth to the star.
How distances and speeds of far – off
objects are assessed?

3. Spectroscopic method

For stars whose parallax cannot be measured

using the ladder, the spectroscopic method is
used. Spectroscopic method requires that the
star’s apparent brightness and spectrum be first
observed.
How distances and speeds of far – off
objects are assessed?

Astronomers measure the

brightness of the stars thru
the process is known as
photometry. Based on
Physics concepts, the
brightness and distance
have an inverse-square
relationship.
We are Living in an Expanding
Universe

From 1912 until 1914, V. H. Slipher studied the

light spectrum released by surrounding spiral
galaxies. He 'd seen common hydrogen and
helium lines. Their wavelengths appear longer
when a little orange appears on the yellow line
and a little green appears on the blue line.
We are Living in an Expanding
Universe
Doppler had described the phenomenon as the
red shift. Also known as the Doppler shift or
Doppler effect. Luminous objects have been
observed stepping away from the observer.
Astronomers can measure the speed of
movable objects from the red shift. Most
galaxies have been observed moving away from
Earth. These findings are confirmed by
increasingly recent observations using powerful
telescopes. Anywhere you look, the galaxies
show Doppler shift