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 Born on March 14th, 1879, Albert Einstein established himself as a talented student at the ripe age of five years. When his father first showed him a pocket compass, Einstein speculated that there must be some force that is turns the needle point in different directions. From this day, Einstein's curiosity has been the driving force in his search for knowledge. Later, he would arguably make the largest step to understanding the workings of the universe, the theory of relativity. Not only did he develop the concept of general and special relativity, but also his most well-known equation relating mass and energy, E=mc^2 .  While more often thought of to be a set of ultra-complex equations that only the highest of mathematicians use, in fact, the theory of relativity is applied everyday. Einstein's ideas have impacted new technologies , spawned new methods of creating useful energy, and even altered our view of everyday life.
 * The Effects of Einstein's Theory of Relativity**

One of the more notable technologies based on the theory of relativity is the Global Positioning System, or GPS. Developed by the United States Department of Defense, a GPS device uses a network of satellites to determine the location of the device with an accuracy of five to ten meters. The current GPS configuration consists of a network of 24 satellites in high orbits around the Earth. Each satellite in the GPS constellation orbits at an altitude of about 20,000 km from the ground, and has an orbital speed of about 14,000 km/hour. The satellite orbits are distributed so that at least 4 satellites are always visible from any point on the Earth at any given instant. Each satellite carries with it an atomic clock that "ticks" with an accuracy of 1 nanosecond (1 billionth of a second). A GPS receiver in an airplane determines its current position and heading by comparing the time signals it receives from a number of the GPS satellites (usually 6 to 12) and triangulating on the known positions of each satellite. In order for this system to function with reasonable accuracy, the satellites need to be accurate from 20-30 nanoseconds (Pogge). This type of accuracy can only be achieved when special relativity, specifically time dilation, is taken into account. According to Einstein's theory of special relativity, because we are viewing the satellites clocks from a relative viewpoint, their clocks will appear to tick slower than those on Earth. The satellite's triangulation will only be correct if this effect is taken into account. If this effect was ignored, the accumulation of GPS error would be over ten kilometers per day (Pogge).

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Another way that the theory of relativity is utilized is in the technology of nuclear power. Almost synonomous with nuclear power is the atomic bomb. Using the theory of relativity to maximize the power of this bomb, the atomic bomb is the second most powerful explosive on the planet, next to the hydrogen bomb. This is because part of the theory of relativity states that the terms "energy" and "mass" are actually two different names for the same thing. Thus, the equation E=mc^2 was created (Possel). Although this equation was not the sole explanation for the immense power of the atomic bomb, it did help scientists realize that if the energy from a massive substance was harnessed, it could be utilized as an energy source. After many more years of research on the properties of atoms and nuclear bonds, in combination with the equation E=mc^2, scientists were able to harness the power of massive substances and use that energy to create one of the most destructive bombs in the world, the atomic bomb.======

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Lastly, the theory of relativity has altered the everyday meaning of 'absolute'. Before Einstein's theory of relativity, scientists were trying to make new theories explaining the workings of the universe in absolutes, to no avail. It is because everything depends on the perspective of the observer that it is impossible to make absolute judgments. In today's society, it is generally conceded that killing another human being is an evil act. But if there was a tribe in which the killing of humans was an accepted, or even a necessary, part of the culture, is it still evil? To today's society it would be, but from the perspective of the tribe, not. Einstein's theory of relativity not only changed the scientific world, but also changed the way that human's view situations in everyday life.======

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The theory of relativity, while still only a theory, has been generally accepted in society, and has been applied to technologies that will have a large impact on the future. The most recognizable application is the GPS system, which allows anyone with a device to track their location real-time. Also, by applying the theory of relativity, the power of the nucleus has been harnessed and turned into useful energy. Finally, the understanding of the theory of relativity has helped us understand the workings of the universe a little bit more, and look at everyday situations with new eyes. Overall, the acceptance of the theory of relativity has had a very positive impact on society.======

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Arora, Hans. "Einstein’s Theory of Relativity: Implications Beyond Science? — Science in Society." __Home — Science in Society__. 20 Oct. 2008. 26 Jan. 2009 .======

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//This website is filled with useful details, along with explanations that make the point clear to the general public. The data comes from a major university, Northwestern, which indicates that the data given in the website has been researched and verified.//======

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Pogge, Richard W. "GPS and Relativity." __The Ohio State University Department of Astronomy__. 15 Dec. 2005. 27 Jan. 2009 <[|http://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~pogge/Ast162/Unit5/gps.html]>.======

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//This website explains all of the different parts of the theory of relativity, but this article focuses specifically on how the theory relates to the birth of the atomic bomb. The information on the website was given directly by a professor from the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute).//======

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Schneider, and Arny. "Relativity." __Relativity__. University of Oregon. 2 Feb. 2009 <[|http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/ast122/lec20.html]>. ======

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//This website gives specific information about the theory of relativity, and through pictures and labeled diagrams shows its application to different scenarios. This website is valid because it is from the readings of a college professor from the University of Oregon.//  ======