MikeH

The theory of relativity is hard to understand but very interesting. In this paper, I will explain Galileo's involvement in this theory, Einstein's involvement in this theory, and the theory itself.

The theory of relativity didn't exactly start with Einstein, Galileo was a hand in the theory as well. All of this was achieved thanks to Newton's Laws of Motion. People predict that if Einstein hadn't discovered this theory, scientists wouldn't have figured it out until years later.(Fowler)

The speed of light is the same for all observers, no matter what their relative speeds. The special theory of relativity states that light always travels the same speed, no matter who or where the observer is.(SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory) Quantities such as length and time change from observer to observer. Many tests done by scientists have proven this notion.(SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)
 * || [[image:mikerulez101:eq-gamma.gif align="center" caption="c is the speed of light, v is the speed of the object in question"]] ||
 * || c is the speed of light, v is the speed of the object in question ||

Einstein developed a theory of motion that could consistently contain both the same speed of light for any observer and the familiar addition of velocities for slow-moving objects. The laws of physics are the same in any inertial (that is, non-accelerated) frame of reference. This means that the laws of physics observed by a hypothetical observer traveling with a relativistic particle must be the same as those observed by an observer who is stationary in the laboratory.(SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)


 * || [[image:mikerulez101:m5.jpg align="center" caption="Realivistic Mechanics"]] ||
 * || Relativistic Mechanics ||

Works Cited:

Fowler, Michael. "Special Relativity ." __Galileo and Einstein Home Page__. 3 Mar. 2008. 5 Feb. 2009 http://galileoandeinstein.physics.virginia.edu/lectures/spec_rel.html.

On this website you can learn the origins of the special relativity theory going all the way back to Galileo. You can find a lot about Galileo and Einstein's work to develop this theory. It provides easy to understand examples to help you understand. This is a credible source because it comes from a college.

"Theory: Special Relativity (SLAC VVC)." __SLAC Public Website Server__. 5 Feb. 2009 http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/vvc/theory/relativity.html.

This website gives you equations and is separated into different easy-to-understand sections.