Special relativity

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Frames of Reference

Many observations can be made of the same event due to the different frames of reference. As an example, if you are at the station and the train pulls in, you see the train moving to you. But if you're on the train, the station is moving to you. This changes depending on the perspective used.

Einstein's Postulates

There are two postulates - laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames, and that the speed of light in a vacuum is constant.

Fundamental effects

Loss of simultaneity

Two events that are simultaneous in one frame need not be simultaneous in another. Two simultaneous events happening at the same time are defined as Δt=0. In special relativity, time is dependent on space, so simultaneity is not necessary.

Time dilation

This concerns how time varies with the reference frame, and how it is not absolute unlike in classical physics.

Length dilation

Length is also relative, so the length of a ruler would be different in different frames.

Lorentz Transformations

The speed of light does not change no matter the frame of reference.

Reflection

The lesson was interesting and the slides were nice. I learnt about the postulates and Lorentz transformation, and how relative velocity does not need to change.