Lecture #2 - Time and Space
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6 Terms
Relativity
The notion that motion can only be measured with respect to a given frame of reference. No one ‘true’ speed exists — the speed at which objects move can be ‘true’ from many different perspectives.
The speed of light is _____
Invariant. Does not depend on the frame of reference.
Postulates of Special Relativity
The laws of physics are the same in all reference frames that are moving at constant speeds.
The speed of light is the same for all observers, regardless of relative motion of source or observer.
Implication of Special Relativity
If observers in all reference frames can agree about the speed of light, then they cannot always agree about the time between two events. Since all observers must agree on the speed of light, observers in relative motion must disagree about measurements of distance and time in such a way that the speed of light remains constant.
Time Dilation
The effect of time flowing slower at high (relativistic) speeds — moving clocks run slow.
Spacetime
A bound entity of space and time resulting from the invariance of the speed of light.