AndrewB


 * Relativity Still Relative Over 100 Years Later  [[image:einstein_1.jpg width="214" height="151" align="left" caption="Albert Einstein explaining his theories of relativity (http://wmap.gsfc.nasa.gov/)"]]     **

Albert Einstein, labeled as one of the brightest and evolutionary thinkers of all time, was one of the few scientists to try and understand the way our universe works. Then in 1905 he told everyone that he had figured it out, well half of it anyways. When he published his general theory of relativity. Then a few years later in 1916 he figured out the other half and published his special theory of relativity (Lightman). Scientists alike doubted Einstein and his ideas as being in the least bit probable. Nevertheless, after countless experiments and tests his theories have stood the test of time, and remained as accepted theories in the scientific community and throughout the world. //Global Positioning Systems, cancer fighting devices, and options with nuclear power have positively impacted society based on Einstein's Theories of Relativity.//

 **Einstein's Theories of General and Special Relativties ** **General: ** The intervals of time and of space are not absolutely separate, but in actuality closely intertconnected. Gravity, as well as mass, therefore can affect, or in essence bend, curve or warp the fabric of space and time around it. The equivalence principle, also known as the key idea of general relativity, is that gravity pulling in one direction is completely equivalent to an acceleration in the opposite direction (Lightman). For example, A rocket accelerating upwards will have the same effect as the force of gravity pulling down towards the floor. Force of gravity is just the acceleration you feel as you move through space time dimensions.  **Special: ** Based on two physics principles (postulates    <span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">) <span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Therefore there is no absolute frame of reference, it's all relative motion ("Special Relativity"). <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #b00707; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"> <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #b00707; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">- **A linear electron accelerator** is a apparatus used to treat various cancers including those of the head, neck, breast, prostate, and lung. The accelerator utilizes electron beams to fight cancer just under the skin because the beams do not pervade it well. The scientists and engineers behind these mechanisms believe if you don't use relativity, you will always get the wrong answer (Wolfe). These life saving, cancer fighting technologies have become a reality so many years past Einstein's time that we are still benefitting from his discoveries today. Who knows, maybe we have only just scratched the surface and there is so much more out there for us to understand. Imagine what other discoveries can evolve from his original relativity theories in the near future. <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">- **Nuclear Power** is reassuring option in our current economic times. As our natural and non-renewable resources are rapidly depleting we are always searching for alternative means of energy and fuel. Nuclear energy has several advantages and disadvantages that ma<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">   ke it controversial. First of all it makes a very little addition to global warming. Secondly its waste products are insignificant and well confined, which is helpful when collecting disposing them. Lastly its mining operations are rather safe compared to that of coal (Wolfe). The major disadvantages of nuclear power is the threat of terroristic attack, or nuclear meltdown. Without Relativity this form of power would not even be an option to consider, so thanks to Einstein we still have somethingwe can fall back on if all else fails.
 * 1st Principle**     <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">-Constant for all observers is the speed of  light  . Speed of light is same for an observer standing still or an observer moving in a straight line at a constant speed.
 * 2nd Principle**-The Laws of Physics are also constant in any non accelerating reference frame (because the theories are only concerned with uniform motion). F   <span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 130%; color: #ba0808; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"> rom different reference points no simultaneous events can occur, and the closer you get to the speed of light the slower time seems to pass, relative to a non moving observer.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">Impacts **<span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"> -<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"> ** Global Positioning Satilites and the corresponding systems **   <span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">   have been a recent advancement in technology available to both the government and public sectors. Global time, position and acceleration data is synchronized by global network of U.S. navigational satellites. Precise location by air, land, or sea virtually anywhere on earth can be determined and accurate within four or five meters.  The internal time of the satilite transmits a signal which tells the receiver and its other corresponding satilites a relative position while rotating the earth (Wolfe). From this and their known positions, it works out where it is on the Earth The relative velocity of the satilites during their gravitational rotation creates a four dimensional grid with time being the fourth dimension. W    hether an airport is tracking normal air traffic, or you need turn by turn directions to the nearest public bathrooms, it  all leads back to Einstein's theories of relativity (Arora).  <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #b00707; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">

<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"> - In the year 2009 we are still benefitting from Einstein's original Theories of Relativity and his discoveries. -We can find the exact location of any person or thing at any given moment anywhere on earth due to global positioning satilites and systems -Life saving contraptions that can actually treat patients with cancer have become a reality -Nuclear power and weapons have become a security blanket for us if all else fails in the search alternative fuels. Increasing our use of it is a possible option in our current economic crisis. Alternative fuels that can be made faster, <span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 90%; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif;">  more efficient, durable, reliable, and affordable are always in demand. -Relativity is still affecting our lives long after the times of Galileo, Maxwell, and Einstein have passed. It just goes to show how smart they were that there ideas from so long ago can still be proven true today. -Imagine what is yet to be discovered through Einstein's original Theories of Relativity in the future. -It has been one hundred four years since his first publication and we have only //just// scratched the surface. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: #b00707; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**Arora, Hans. "Einstein's Theory of Relativity: Implications Beyond Science? - Science in Society." __Google.__ 2 Feb 2009.**  <[|http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:CCqSPZuVJ3kJ:scienceinsociety.northwestern.edu/content/articles/2008/research-digest/student-papers/einstein/einstein2019s-theory-of-relativity-implications-beyond-science theory of relativity %]> This particular site explains the important practical and theoretical impacts and or uses of Einstein's theory of relativity. His complex theories have been broken down to an understandable level for general research. Written by Hans Arora, an MD-PhD and supported by Northwestern University, it is known to be credible information. Contact information is available if questions, comments, or concerns arise. **<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lightman, Alan. "Relativity and the Cosmos." __PBS__. June 2005. NOVA. 2 Feb. 2009 ** <[|**http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/relativity/**]**.>** This site is a great source. It has images, pictures, and diagrams to help convey and illustrate ideas. It gives good information for general knowledge and research. Furthermore you can trust the information to be valid because it is on the pbs website. It is a credible source and can be trusted to be accurate. **"Special Relativity." __Virtual Visitor Center__. 31 Oct. 2008. SLAC. 2 Feb. 2009** [|<**http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/vvc/theory/relativity.html**]>**.** This website gives beyond basic explanations about Einstein's Theory of Relativity. It includes in depth descriptions and theoretical basis for Special Relativity. This site is definetly credible becasue it is backed by the Univeristy of Stanford and the U.S Department of Energy. This site is well constructed and easy to use with its layout. This seems to be a great website for general research in the scientifical field of physics. This site breaks down each individual idea and concept by using models, animations, videos and helpful diagrams. Gailieo, Maxwell, Einstein, Time Dilation, and the theory E=mc^2 are just some of the many topics included. Written and presented by Joe Wolfe Produced and animated by George Hatsidimitris. This site is credable and backed by the science department at The University New South Wales
 * <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype', 'Book Antiqua', Palatino, serif;">Annotated Works Cited **
 * Wolfe, Joe. "Einstein Light." __Einstein__ Light. Ed. George Hatsidimitris. The University New South Wales. 2 Feb. 2009** <[|**www.phys.unsw.edu.au/einsteinlight/**]**>.**