Principles of relativity

From true

Jump to: navigation, search

We have gone over three statements of relativity in this class. Listed from the most general to the most specific, they are as follows:

  • "Full" relativity - All the laws of physics are the same for all observers.
  • Special relativity - All the laws of physics are the same for any observers moving uniformly (that is, not accelerating).
  • Galilean relativity - The laws of motion are the same for any observers moving uniformly (that is, not accelerating).

The important thing to remember is that electromagnetism seemed to violate "full" relativity because there was a velocity in the laws of electromagnetism. There were no velocities in the laws of motion. For example, Newton's second law relates force, mass, and acceleration -- not velocity.

Retrieved from "http://www2.evergreen.edu/wikis/true/index.php?title=Principles_of_relativity"