The theory of relativity was first proposed based on mathematical theory developed by [[Henri Poincaré]] and [[Hendrik Lorentz]]. This theory was not developed based on observation or experiments. Poincaré and Lorentz pondered what would happen if the speed of light was constant in all frames of reference, and all laws of physics were the same in every (inertial) frame of reference no matter where it is or how fast it is traveling. This theory differs from [[Isaac Newton]]'s theory of gravitation by disposing with the idea of a universal, mutually agreeable scale of time (i.e. a universal clock that all times can refer to) and space (i.e. a universal sheet of "graph paper", which location refers to). | The theory of relativity was first proposed based on mathematical theory developed by [[Henri Poincaré]] and [[Hendrik Lorentz]]. This theory was not developed based on observation or experiments. Poincaré and Lorentz pondered what would happen if the speed of light was constant in all frames of reference, and all laws of physics were the same in every (inertial) frame of reference no matter where it is or how fast it is traveling. This theory differs from [[Isaac Newton]]'s theory of gravitation by disposing with the idea of a universal, mutually agreeable scale of time (i.e. a universal clock that all times can refer to) and space (i.e. a universal sheet of "graph paper", which location refers to). |