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What is the main postulate of Einstein's theory of special relativity?
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The main postulate is that the laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames of reference, and the speed of light in a vacuum is constant for all observers, regardless of the motion of the light source or observer.
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What is time dilation in the context of special relativity?
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Time dilation is a phenomenon where time passes slower for a moving clock as observed from a stationary frame of reference, compared to a clock at rest within the stationary frame.
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Can you explain what is meant by length contraction?
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Length contraction is the phenomenon whereby the length of an object is measured to be shorter when it is moving relative to the observer, compared to its length at rest in its proper frame.
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How does special relativity affect simultaneity?
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Special relativity shows that simultaneity is relative, meaning that two events that are simultaneous in one inertial frame may not be simultaneous in another moving frame.
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What is the Lorentz transformation?
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The Lorentz transformation is a set of equations describing how measurements of space and time by two observers in uniform relative motion are related.
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What is the equation for time dilation and what do its components represent?
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The equation for time dilation is t' = t / √(1-v²/c²), where t' is the dilated time, t is the proper time, v is the relative velocity, and c is the speed of light.
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Why is the speed of light considered a cosmic speed limit?
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In special relativity, nothing can travel faster than the speed of light because as objects accelerate towards light speed, their mass increases, requiring infinite energy to reach light speed.
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How does E=mc² relate to special relativity?
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E=mc², the mass-energy equivalence principle, indicates that mass can be converted into energy and vice versa, a fundamental concept derived from special relativity.
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What experimental evidence supports time dilation?
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Experimental evidence for time dilation includes observations of longer muon lifetimes when moving at high speeds and precise atomic clock experiments on fast-moving jets.
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How does special relativity differ from general relativity?
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Special relativity deals with inertial frames and the effects of motion at constant speeds, while general relativity extends this to include acceleration and gravity's effects on spacetime.
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Who first proposed the theory of special relativity and when?
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Albert Einstein first introduced the theory of special relativity in 1905.
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What is a spacetime interval in special relativity?
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A spacetime interval in special relativity is a quantity that remains invariant between events in different inertial frames, combining dimensions of space and time.
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Why are relativistic effects negligible at everyday speeds?
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Relativistic effects are negligible at everyday speeds because the velocities involved are much smaller compared to the speed of light, making classical mechanics an accurate approximation.
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What is the twin paradox, and how is it resolved?
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The twin paradox involves a traveling twin aging slower than a stationary one due to time dilation, resolved by acknowledging the asymmetrical inertial frames, as one twin undergoes acceleration.
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How did Michelson-Morley experiment support special relativity?
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The Michelson-Morley experiment provided evidence against the existence of the ether, supporting the constancy of light speed in all frames, a cornerstone of special relativity.
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