Define Special theory of relativity.
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Define Special theory of relativity.
The Special Theory of Relativity, formulated by Albert Einstein in 1905, revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and the nature of motion. It introduces two fundamental postulates:
Principle of Relativity: The laws of physics are the same for all observers in uniform motion, regardless of their relative velocities. No observer in inertial motion can claim a privileged or absolute state of rest.
Invariance of the Speed of Light: The speed of light in a vacuum (denoted by 'c') is constant for all observers, irrespective of their motion or the motion of the source of light. This principle challenges classical notions of relative motion, as it implies that space and time are interconnected in a way that allows the speed of light to remain constant in all reference frames.
The theory leads to groundbreaking consequences, including time dilation (time appearing to pass more slowly for a moving observer), length contraction (objects appearing shorter when moving at high speeds), and the equivalence of mass and energy (expressed by the famous equation E=mc²). Special Relativity forms the basis for our understanding of the physics of high speeds and has been extensively validated through experimental observations and technological applications.