Albert Einstein proposed the Special Theory of Relativity in 1905. This "theory" has had a major impact on all our lives, although you may not think so. The purpose of these Web pages is to try to relate the theory in a clear and understandable way, with the mathematics and technicalities kept out of the way, unless you really want to know about them. While relativity has a reputation for being difficult much of it can be understood by anyone (and all of it by no one!).

I am always interested in any comments or feedback you may have on these pages. If you have any ideas as to how they should develop or what you would like to see on them please let me know, using the email address at the bottom of the page.

Guides and Summaries:

• Special Relativity in under 15 minutes! A quick summary of Special Relativity.

Special Relativity Detailed Pages:

• Time Dilation. How time changes as a consequence of very high speed travel.
• Time Dilation at "Low" Speeds. How is time affected at low speeds, such as when flying?
• Time Dilation Worked Examples. Solving the time dilation equation.
• The Constancy of the Speed of Light. The fact that (almost) everyone refused to believe.
• Speed, Frequency and Wavelength in Light Waves. How they are mathematically linked.
• The Light Clock. A theoretical proof of time dilation.

E = mc2:

•  The Basics. What is E = mc² and what does it mean?
•  Solving the Equation. A simple walk-through of the equation.
•  Deriving the Equation. A bit tricky this one!
•  Energy from Radioactive Decay. What is radioactive decay?
•  Energy from Nuclear Fission. Pulling atoms apart.
•  Energy from Nuclear Fusion. Squeezing atoms together.
•  Quiz. Think you know your stuff? Take the E = mc² quiz!

Related Pages on this Site:

•   Galileo's Relativity. The Galilean transformation co-ordinate equations.

German Pages:

• Die Spezielle Relativitätstheorie in weniger als 15 Minuten!

Links to External Sites:

• Links. Links to other Web pages that may be of interest.

More Quotations.

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Comments about this page can be addressed to me at:

j.k.doyle@talk21.com

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© Jim Doyle
Date created 24 Sep 99
Last updated: 23 Oct 05