THEORY OF SPECIAL RELATIVITY

What fundamental inconsistency between Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell's electromagnetic theory led to the development of special relativity?

• 1. The differing predictions of gravitational force.

• The varying measurements of the speed of sound.

• The contradiction regarding the constancy of the speed of light.

• The differences in calculations of kinetic energy.

1. According to Maxwell's equations, what is a constant value in a vacuum, regardless of the observer's motion?

• 1. The acceleration of objects.

• 1. The relative velocity of objects.

• The relative velocity of objects.

• 1. The speed of light.

Einstein's postulate of the constancy of the speed of light challenge the Newtonian concept of absolute time and space by demonstrating that time and space are relative to the observer's motion.

• True

• False

Absolute time and gravitational lensing are the key concepts introduced by special relativity which explains why the speed of light remains constant for all observers, regardless of their relative motion.

• True

• False

The Lorentz transformations provide a mathematical framework that reconciled Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell's electromagnetism by replacing the _____ with a set of equations that account for the constancy of the speed of light.