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.
All labels observed (4)
| Label | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| special relativity canonical | 25 |
| special theory of relativity | 3 |
| Einstein's special theory of relativity | 1 |
| Einstein’s special theory of relativity | 1 |
Statements (51)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
physical theory
ⓘ
theory of relativity ⓘ theory of space and time ⓘ |
| alsoKnownAs |
special relativity
ⓘ
surface form:
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
ⓘ
surface form:
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 transformation
ⓘ
surface form:
Lorentz transformations
Minkowski space-time ⓘ
surface form:
Minkowski spacetime
|
| validWhen | gravitational fields are negligible ⓘ |
Referenced by (30)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
this entity surface form:
Einstein’s special theory of relativity
this entity surface form:
special theory of relativity
subject surface form:
Spacetime Physics
this entity surface form:
Einstein's special theory of relativity
this entity surface form:
special theory of relativity
subject surface form:
Kennedy–Thorndike experiment
subject surface form:
Space and Time (chapter)
subject surface form:
A First Course in General Relativity
this entity surface form:
special theory of relativity
subject surface form:
Trouton–Noble experiment