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Moore 1
The Principle of Relativity
21
Physics
Undergraduate 1
10/04/2009

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Term
Is there any way, when you are confined within an inertial reference frame, to know whether it is you who are moving or the Other that is moving?
Definition
no.
Term
informal statement of the principle of relativity
Definition
The laws of physics are the same inside a laboratory moving at a constant speed as they are in a laboratory at rest.
Term
Who was the first to state the principle of relativity?
Definition
Galileo
Term
On what basic principle is Einstein's theory or relativity founded?
Definition
The principle of relativity
Term
How did Einstein revolutionize Galileo's relativity theory?
Definition
He said that it applies to ALL the laws of physics, especially the laws of electromagnetism.
Term
What is the priciple of relativity?
Definition
It is a postulate; it cannot be proved beyond a doubt. It has not been disproved yet, however.
Term
definition: event
Definition
An event is any physical occurrence that we can consider to happen at a definite place in space and at a definite instant in time.
Term
definition: spacetime coordinates
Definition
we can quantify an event with 4 numbers- i.e. spacetime coordinates=3 numbers that specify the location of the event in some 3 dimensional spatial coordinate system and 1 number that specifies what thime the event occured.
Term
How do we quantify motion of an object?
Definition
by treating it as a series of events
Term
operational definition of spacetime coordinates
Definition
one attaches a clock to each intersection of time and space within the 3 dimensional spacial coordinate system to get a space time coordinate system
Term
Why is it important to have a clock at every lattice intersection?
Definition
if we attempt to read the time of an event by using a clock located a substantial distance away, we need to make assumptions about how long it took the information that the event has occurred to reach that distant clock.
Term
definition: reference frame
Definition
is a rigid cubical lattice of appropriately synchronized clocks or its functional equivalent.
Term
definition: observer
Definition
a (possibly hypothetical) person who interprets measurements made in a reference frame
Term
inertial vs. noninertial frames
Definition
An inertial frame is one in which an isolated object is always and everywhere observed to move at a constant velocity(as required by Newton's first law). in a noninertial frame, such an object is observed to move with a nonconstant velocity in at least some situations.
Term
first law detector
Definition
Electrical "fingers" hold a ball in place within a spherical detector. When the ball is released, it should remain at rest by Newton's first law; if it does not, the frame to which the detector container is attached is noninertial.
Term
some consequences that follow from the definition of inertial frames
Definition
Any inertial reference frame will be observed to move at a constant velocity relative to any other inertial reference frame. Conversely, a rigid, nonrotating reference frame that moves at a constant velocity with respect to any other inertial reference frame must itself be inertial.
Term
formal statement of the principle of relativity
Definition
The laws of physics are the same in all inertial reference frames
Term
newtonian approach to clock synchronization
Definition
time is absolute and flows equable without regard to anything external. Therefore, we can use 1 master clock to synchronize the other clocks. consequence=galilean transformation equations
Term
Galilean transformation equations
Definition
position: x'= x - ßt

velocity: v'= v - ß

acceleration: a'= a
Term
fact about acceleration
Definition
An object's acceleration is the same in all inertial reference frames
Term
"the laws of physics are them same" in different reference frames
Definition
Observers in different inertial frames may disagree about the values of various quantities (particularly positions and velocities), but each observer will agree that if one takes the mathematical equation describing a physical law (such as Newton's second law) and plugs in the values measured in that observer's frame, one will always find that the equation is satisfied.
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