special relativity
E32548
Special relativity is Einstein’s theory of space and time that explains how measurements of distance, duration, and simultaneity depend on the relative motion of observers moving at constant velocities.
Aliases (2)
Statements (51)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
physical theory
→
theory of relativity → theory of space and time → |
| alsoKnownAs |
special theory of relativity
→
|
| appliesTo |
electromagnetism
→
high-velocity phenomena → inertial reference frames → |
| assumes |
constancy of the speed of light in vacuum
→
principle of relativity → |
| consistentWith |
Maxwell’s equations
→
|
| contradicts |
Newtonian absolute space
→
Newtonian absolute time → |
| defines |
spacetime interval
→
|
| definesLorentzFactorAs |
γ = 1 / sqrt(1 - v^2/c^2)
→
|
| eliminates |
need for luminiferous aether
→
|
| formulatedBy |
Albert Einstein
→
|
| generalizedBy |
general relativity
→
|
| hasKeyEquation |
E = mc^2
→
E^2 = (pc)^2 + (mc^2)^2 → t' = \gamma (t - vx/c^2) → x' = \gamma (x - vt) → |
| implies |
Lorentz invariance
→
length contraction → mass–energy equivalence → relativity of simultaneity → time dilation → upper limit on signal speed → velocity addition formula → |
| influenced |
modern particle physics
→
quantum field theory → |
| involves |
Lorentz factor
→
|
| predicts |
moving objects contract along direction of motion
→
muon lifetime dilation in Earth’s atmosphere → relativistic Doppler effect → relativistic kinetic energy → relativistic momentum increase with speed → simultaneity is frame-dependent → time runs slower for moving clocks → twin paradox scenario → |
| publicationYear |
1905
→
|
| replaces |
Galilean transformations
→
|
| states |
laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames
→
speed of light in vacuum is the same for all inertial observers → |
| symbolForLorentzFactor |
γ
→
|
| testedBy |
atomic clock experiments
→
particle accelerator experiments → |
| treats |
space and time as a unified spacetime
→
|
| usedIn |
GPS time corrections
→
|
| uses |
Lorentz transformations
→
Minkowski spacetime → |
| validWhen |
gravitational fields are negligible
→
|
Referenced by (16)
| Subject (surface form when different) | Predicate |
|---|---|
|
Standard Model
→
quantum electrodynamics → |
basedOn |
|
Einstein synchronization convention
→
Lorentz contraction → |
field |
|
special relativity
("special theory of relativity")
→
|
alsoKnownAs |
|
quantum field theory
→
|
combines |
|
Henri Poincaré
→
|
fieldOfWork |
|
Lorentz contraction
("Einstein’s special theory of relativity")
→
|
fullyExplainedBy |
|
general relativity
→
|
generalizes |
|
Newtonian absolute space
→
|
incompatibleWith |
|
Lorentz transformation
→
|
partOf |
|
Lorentz group
→
|
relatedTo |
|
relativity of simultaneity
→
|
subfield |
|
Trouton–Noble experiment
→
|
supportsTheory |
|
Ives–Stilwell experiment
→
|
testedTheory |
|
Gauss's law for magnetism
→
|
validIn |