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Special theory of relativity (view source)
Revision as of 13:34, August 16, 2010
, 13:34, August 16, 2010→History
== History ==
== History ==
In the beginning of the last century the two assumption mentioned before where found experimentally in the form of the Maxwell equations, which describe electromagnetic waves. The general idea at that point was that any wave is carried by some medium, called the [[aether (science)|luminiferous aether]]. However, as the earth is moving through space, there should be a difference in the interferometrically determined light wavelength, when measured at noon, at evening and at night at the same geographic location. However the [[Michelson-Morley experiment]] did reject the aether hypothesis. With this rejection it became an inevitable fact that equations descibing physics, which where fitting to a three dimensional space with a single timeframe for all observers exist. The mathematical framework and physical significance was developed by [[Henri Poincaré]] and [[Hendrik Lorentz]]. [[Albert Einstein]] gave an alternate derivation in terms of postulates.
In the beginning of the last century the two assumption mentioned before where found experimentally in the form of the Maxwell equations, which describe electromagnetic waves. The general idea at that point was that any wave is carried by some medium, called the [[aether (science)|luminiferous aether]]. However, as the earth is moving through space, there should be a difference in the interferometrically determined light wavelength, when measured at noon, at evening and at night at the same geographic location. However the [[Michelson-Morley experiment]] did reject the aether hypothesis. With this rejection it became an inevitable fact that equations descibing physics, which where fitting to a three dimensional space with a single timeframe for all observers exist. The mathematical framework and physical significance was developed by [[Henri Poincaré]] and [[Hendrik Lorentz]]. [[Albert Einstein]] gave an alternate derivation in terms of postulates.
Many other scientists contributed modifications of this theory. In particular, the Irish Physicist Fitzgerald proposed that the failure of the Michelson Morley experiment was as a result of a length contraction effect. This idea was taken up by Hendrik Lorentz and shown by others to be a useful mechanism by which theory could be forced into conformance with experimental results. However, in 2005, Michael Strauss a computer engineer invalidated much of Special Relativity theory by showing clear contradictions in the theory. [http://www.relativitycollapse.com Special Relativity]
== Spin as a relativistic effect ==
== Spin as a relativistic effect ==