Web Activities
UNIT 5 - MATTER-ENERGY INTERFACE
Chapter 11 - Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity
11.2 Relativity of Time, Length, and
Momentum (p. 574)
11.4 The Life and Times of Albert
Einstein
Chapter 11 Review (p. 591)
Chapter 11 - Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity
11.2 Relativity of Time, Length, and Momentum
(p. 574)
length contraction simulation?
Fear
of Physics
This site describes relativity in simple terms. Through a series of
pages, you are shown length contraction with a bit of interactivity.
Space-Time
Physics
The physical effects of Einstein's relativity. There are multiple experiments
to try in this simulation.
An
Example of Time Dilation
A simulation of time dilation
New
Observations of Black Holes Confirm General relativity
Not a simulation but a great article on present day science that confirms
theories of Einstein made 80 years ago.
11.4 The Life and Times of Albert Einstein
Practice (p. 586)
- Einstein was probably the most famous scientist since Newton.
Choose a topic of interest from below, collect information through
the Internet and other sources, and write a report with a maximum
of 500 words. Your report should include a description of Einstein
as a person, some information about the people with whom he interacted,
and some remarks on the prevailing scientific or (as relevant) social
climate.
- Einstein's intellectual development until the end of 1905
- Einstein's work in physics beyond relativity
- Einstein's relevance to the Manhattan project
- Einstein's efforts in the international diplomacy of the
Cold War era
- Einstein's efforts in a unified field theory
Albert
Einstein Archives
This is a great site posted by the Hebrew University of Jeruselam.
Nobel
Prize Winners
This site is dedicated to Einstein's discovery of the law of the photoelectric
effect.
NOVA
On-line
This site has information on the life of Einstein.
Chapter 11 Review
(p. 591)
- As early as 1907, while Einstein and others explored the implications
of his special theory of relativity, Einstein was already thinking
about a more general theory. Could he extend the special theory to
deal with objects in a noninertial frame of reference? Einstein saw
a link between accelerated motion and the force of gravity. Galileo
and Newton had found that all bodies, if released from the same height,
would fall with exactly the same constant acceleration (in the absence
of air resistance). Like the invariant speed of light on which Einstein
had founded his special theory of relativity, here was an invariance
that could be the starting point for another theory, the general theory
of relativity. Research the Internet and other sources and answer
the following questions:
- What thought experiment did Einstein use to connect accelerated
motion and the force of gravity?
- Briefly explain how the general theory of relativity describes
how an object moved under the force of gravity and how Einstein
tested his prediction.
- How did others test this theory using a solar eclipse (Figure
2) in 1919?
Einstein's
Special Theory of Relativity for Cranks
Extensive site with many pages and lots of demonstrations to describe
the effects of the theory of special relativity.
Theory:
Special Relativity
This site is from Stanford University and has a very nice discussion
of the equations involved.
Dr.
Odenwald's ASK THE ASTRONOMER
This is a page for frequently asked questions about relativity (160
questions asked and answered).
