Theory of Relativity

Which of the following statements best describes what is "relative" in the theory of relativity?

• The theory says that everything is relative.

• The theory says that truth can never be established in any absolute sense.

• The theory says that the speed of light is relative and depends on who is measuring it.

• The theory says that measurements of motion make sense only when we state what they are measured relative to.

In relativity, two people share the same frame of reference only if:

• they are not moving relative to each other.

• they are both located in the same place.

• they are both located in the same place and are traveling at the same speed.

• they are both located in the same place and are stationary.

Which of the following best describes an inertial frame of reference?

• A point in space from which the location of other objects can be measured.

• A point in space from which the relative location and motion of objects can be measured.

• A non-accelerating point in space from which the relative location and motion of objects can be measured.

• A point in space with a changing velocity from which the relative location and motion of objects can be measured.

You and Wootteo are both floating freely in your spaceships. Suppose Wootteo is moving away from you at 5 m/s. You throw a ball in his direction at a speed of 4 m/s. According to Wootteo, which of the following is going on?

• He agrees that he is moving at 5 m/s and the ball is moving at 4 m/s while you are standing still.

• He sees you moving away from him at 5 m/s and the ball moving toward him at 4 m/s.

• He sees you moving away from him at 5 m/s and the ball moving toward him at 1 m/s.

• He sees you moving away from him at 5 m/s and the ball moving away from him at 1 m/s.

Jin is coming toward you at a speed of 15 m/s. You throw a tuna in his direction at 15 m/s. What does he see the tuna doing?

• He sees the tuna coming at him at 15 m/s.

• He sees the tuna going away from him at 15 m/s.

• He sees the tuna coming at him at 30 m/s.

• He sees the tuna going away from him at 30 m/s.

RJ is traveling away from you at a speed of 12 m/s. He throws a spoon that, according to him, is going at 10 m/s in your direction. What do you see the ball doing?

• You see the ball traveling away from you at 12 m/s.

• You see the ball traveling away from you at 10 m/s.

• You see the ball traveling away from you at 22 m/s.

• You see the ball traveling away from you at 2 m/s.

Tae is traveling toward you at 9 m/s. He throws a baseball that, according to him, is going at 9 m/s in the opposite direction. What do you see the ball doing?

• You see the ball remaining stationary.

• You see the ball traveling away from you at 9 m/s.

• You see the ball traveling away from you at 18 m/s.

• You see the ball traveling toward you at 9 m/s.

Tae is going away from you at 75 km/hr, and Jin is going in the opposite direction away from you at 90 km/hr. According to Tae, how fast is Jin going?

• Tae sees Jin going away from him at 75 km/hr.

• Tae sees Jin going away from him at 90 km/hr.

• Tae sees Jin going away from him at 15 km/hr.

• Tae sees Jin going away from him at 165 km/hr.

Special Relativity was introduced by:

• Isaac Newton

• James Clerk Maxwell

• Albert Einstein

• Max Planck

The Galilean relativity assumes that: I. Time is absolute. II. Space is absolute. III. Velocity addition is relativistic. IV. The speed of light is constant in all inertial frames. Which combination of statements is correct?

• I and II only

• II and III only

• III and IV only

• I and IV only