Unity & Diversity in the Theory of Relativity
February 3, 1994
Einstein & Newton
Einstein introduced new elements of unity & diversity to classical physics.
He found that time, space & mass vary at speeds close to the speed of light (c).
Variation is found between objects traveling at high speed relative to each other:
Newton:
Time absolute
Einstein:
Time relative
Space relative
Space relative
Mass absolute
Mass relative
Was Newton Completely Wrong?
At slow relative speeds Newton's time & mass are constant, but not absolute.
At slow relative speeds Einstein's equations reduce mathematically to Newton's.
At high relative speeds Einstein's equations govern.
Newton's equations remain a foundation for pure & applied sciences today.
Unity & Diversity in the Theory of Relativity:
A new element of diversity is seen in the variation of time, space & mass.
A new element of unity is seen in the orderly pattern of variation:
% Change =
1
-------------
Ö
(1-v
2
/c
2
)
