Relativity Flashcards
What is time dilation?
The recorded time of an object moving in an inertial frame by a stationary observer. This recorded time will be a larger number than the actual time that has passed for the object that is moving.
What is the equation for time dilation?
What is length contraction
The recorded length of an object moving in an inertial frame by a stationary observer. This recorded length will be shorter than the actual length of the object that is moving.
What is the equation for length contraction?
What is the symbol for the speed of light?
c
What is the symbol for the speed of the moving object?
v
An inertial frame is…
a frame of reference that is moving at a constant velocity (it is not accelerating).
What are Einstein’s postulates?
- The speed of light in a vacuum is the same for all observers, regardless of their relative frame of reference.
- The laws of physics do not change, even for objects moving in inertial frames.
What is the symbol for contracted length?
l’
What is the symbol for dilated time?
t’
What is the lorentz factor?
What is the equation for time dilation using the lorentz factor?
What is the equation for length contraction using the lorentz factor?
What is the speed of light in a vacuum?
c = 3x108 ms-1
