Relativity

Question 1

The ether

Answer 1

The ‘incorrect’ idea that there is a medium called the ether that light waves propagate through

Question 2

The Michelson and Morley experiment

Answer 2

An experiment to measure the effect of the hypothetical ether using an optical interferometer.

Question 3

Einsteins two postulates for the “Special Theory of relativity”

Answer 3

1. All physical laws are the same in all IRF
2. The invariance of the velocity of light in all IRF

Question 4

The relativity of simultaneity

Answer 4

Events at different placed which are simultaneous for one observer are not simultaneous for another who is moving relative to the first observer

Question 5

Proper time

Answer 5

The time between events that occur at the same location in an IRF

Question 6

Time dilation

Answer 6

The time between two events for an observer moving relative to those events is longer than for an observer at rest relative to those events

Question 7

Moving clocks run slow

Answer 7

Clocks in an IRF appear to run slow when viewed by an observer in another IRF moving relative to the clocks

Question 8

Relativity of length

Answer 8

Moving objects shrink along their direction of travel as measured by an observer in another IRF moving IRF