KathleenL


 * Albert Einsteins Monumental Discovery**

Albert Einstein's findings of the Theory of Relativity includes two parts: In order to understand the Theory of Relativity, a person should understand those two statements, and a person sould also understand the relativity of time.
 * 1) The speed of light is the same for all observers, no matter what their relative speeds.
 * 2) 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.

For example, let's look at a particle sometimes created at SLAC known as a tau. In the frame of reference where the tau particle is at rest, its lifetime is known to be approximately 3.05 x 10-13 s. To calculate how far it travels before decaying, we could try to use the familiar equation distance equals speed times time. It travels so close to the speed of light that we can use c = 3x108 m/sec for the speed of the particle. (As we will see below, the speed of light in a vacuum is the highest speed attainable.) If you do the calculation you find the distance traveled should be 9.15 x 10-5 meters. (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory). //d// = //v// //t// //d// = (3 x 108 m/sec)( 3.05 x 10-13 s) = 9.15 x 10-5 m
 * Understanding the Relativity of Time**

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Albert Einstein stated "The speed of light is the same for all observers, no matter what their relative speeds." (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory). This means that the speed of light will always remain constant no matter where it is present.

"Indeed many such tests have been made -- and the answers Einstein gave are right every time!" (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory) This statement goes to say that Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity statements were right.

"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 described above for slow-moving objects." (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory). As stated here, Albert Einstein had to be a great scientist, he made up his own tests and experiments.

The Theory of Relativity was founded in 1905 by Albert Einstien who first referred it as the "principle of relativity." This statement meant absolute motion as a constant could never be dectable. No scientist could find a way around the laws of magnitude and electricity. Albert Eintein would stop at noghting to find a way around these laws so he could detect absolute motion as a constant. Instead of changing his ways, he decided that Newton's laws were the one's that needed changing. Einstein decided to make time "relative". "These changes became sugnificent near the vlocity of light, and in one day-to-day phenomena it could be ignored. As the velocity of light was approached, inertia increased". (Dr. David P. Stern, The Theory of Relativity). This made it harder to accelerate matter and velocity as an absolute limit, and no object could exceed this velicity.
 * Background information on the Theory of Relativity**


 * Works Cited**

Stern, David. " The Theory of Relativity." __NASA Polar, Wind, and Geotail Projects__. 20 May 2008. 5 Feb. 2009 .

This website gives background information about the Theory of Relativity. It goes into detail as well. It is a credible website because this page was written by a doctor in science.

"Theory: Special Relativity (SLAC VVC)." __SLAC Public Website Server__. 31 Oct. 2008. 5 Feb. 2009 .

This website explains the basics to Einsteins findings for the Theory of Relativity. This website goes into great detail, and it is easy to navigate. This is a credible website because it is from Stanford university.