Certainly! “Theory of Relativity is a renowned scientific theory from the 20th century, but how effectively does it clarify phenomena in our everyday experiences?”

In 1905, Albert Einstein initiated the development of the theory of relativity to elucidate the interactions of objects in space and time. This groundbreaking theory allows predictions about phenomena like black holes, the bending of light under gravity, and the movements of planets in their orbits.

The theory appears deceptively simple with three key principles. Firstly, there’s no “absolute” frame of reference; measurements of an object’s velocity, momentum, or time experience are always in relation to something else. Secondly, the speed of light remains constant, regardless of who measures it or their own speed. Thirdly, nothing can surpass the speed of light.

Einstein’s renowned theory has significant implications. When the speed of light remains constant, an astronaut moving rapidly in relation to Earth will perceive time passing more slowly than an observer on Earth. This phenomenon is known as time dilation.

In a strong gravitational field, any object undergoes acceleration and, consequently, experiences time dilation. Simultaneously, the astronaut’s spaceship undergoes length contraction, making it appear “squished” if photographed while in motion.

Despite these relativistic effects, everything would seem normal to the astronaut onboard. Moreover, observers on Earth would perceive an increase in the mass of the spaceship.

You don’t need a spacecraft moving at near-light speed to witness relativistic effects. Everyday scenarios and modern technologies illustrate Einstein’s theory of relativity. Here are some common examples demonstrating the theory in action.

ELECTROMAGNETS

Magnetism exemplifies a relativistic effect, demonstrated in generators. When you move a wire loop through a magnetic field, it induces an electric current. The changing magnetic field influences charged particles in the wire, compelling some to move and generating the current.

Now, consider the wire at rest while envisioning the magnet in motion. In this scenario, the charged particles in the wire (electrons and protons) are not in motion, suggesting the magnetic field shouldn’t affect them. However, it does, and a current still flows. This illustrates that there is no privileged frame of reference.

Thomas Moore, a physics professor at Pomona College in Claremont, California, applies the principle of relativity to illustrate Faraday’s law, asserting that a changing magnetic field generates an electric current.

Electromagnets also operate on the principles of relativity. When an electric charge’s direct current flows through a wire, electrons move through the material. Typically, the wire appears electrically neutral, with a balanced number of protons (positive charges) and electrons (negative charges).

However, placing another wire with a direct current next to it results in attraction or repulsion between the wires, determined by the current’s direction, as explained by physicists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

If the currents move in the same direction, the electrons in the second wire are relatively stationary compared to those in the first wire, assuming similar current strengths. Simultaneously, the protons in both wires move relative to the electrons in both wires.

Due to relativistic length contraction, they seem more closely spaced, resulting in a higher positive charge than negative charge per unit length of wire. As like charges repel, the two wires also repel.

When the currents flow in opposite directions, attraction occurs. In this scenario, the electrons in the second wire, relative to the first wire, are more tightly packed, resulting in a net negative charge, as explained by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Simultaneously, the protons in the first wire create a net positive charge, and opposite charges attract.

GPS NAVIGATION

The precision of your car’s GPS navigation relies on satellites accounting for relativistic effects, PhysicsCentral explains. While satellites don’t approach the speed of light, they still move quickly. Additionally, the satellites send signals to ground stations on Earth. These stations, along with the GPS technology in a car or smartphone, experience higher accelerations due to gravity than the satellites in orbit.

For precise accuracy, GPS satellites employ clocks accurate to a few nanoseconds. Positioned 12,600 miles above Earth, moving at 6,000 mph, relativistic time dilation adds about 4 microseconds daily. Considering gravity effects, the time dilation effect increases to about 7 microseconds.

The impact is significant: Without factoring in relativistic effects, a GPS unit indicating it’s half a mile to the next gas station would be off by 5 miles after just one day, as per Physics Central.

GOLD’S YELLOW COLOR

The shine of most metals results from electrons in atoms transitioning between different energy levels, or “orbitals.” When photons strike the metal, some get absorbed and re-emitted at a longer wavelength, while most visible light reflects.

Due to its heaviness, gold’s inner electrons exhibit significant relativistic effects, leading to increased mass and noticeable length contraction. This phenomenon causes the electrons to revolve around the nucleus in shorter paths with greater momentum, as explained by Heidelberg University in Germany.

Gold’s inner electrons, affected by relativistic effects, absorb and reflect longer wavelengths of light. This absorption, particularly in the blue spectrum, alters the color we perceive. As gold absorbs and reemits light, the resulting mix tends to have less blue and violet.

Consequently, the longer wavelengths of yellow, orange, and red light dominate, giving gold its characteristic yellowish appearance, as reported by the BBC.

GOLD’S RESISTANCE TO CORROSION

The relativistic effect on gold’s electrons contributes to its resistance to corrosion and limited reactivity with other substances, as noted in a 1998 paper published in the journal Gold Bulletin.

Gold, despite having only one electron in its outer shell, exhibits lower reactivity compared to elements like calcium or lithium. The relativistic effect, making the electrons “heavier” due to their near-light-speed movement, keeps them closer to the atomic nucleus. As a result, the outermost electron is less likely to be in a position to react and is as likely to be near the nucleus with other electrons.

LIQUID MERCURY

Mercury, being a heavy atom, experiences electrons held closely to the nucleus due to their increased speed and mass. The weak bonds between mercury atoms result in a lower melting point, making mercury a liquid at typical temperatures.

YOUR OLD TV

Until the early 2000s, cathode ray tube screens were common in televisions and monitors. These tubes work by propelling electrons at a phosphor surface using a large magnet. Each electron creates a lit pixel upon hitting the screen, and these electrons move to form the picture at speeds up to 30% of the speed of light. Manufacturers had to consider relativistic effects when shaping the magnets for these tubes, according to PBS News Hour.

LIGHT

Isaac Newton assumed the existence of an absolute rest frame, a perfect external reference point for comparing all other frames of reference. If he had been correct, we would need a different explanation for light, as it wouldn’t occur at all.

THE SUN

Without Einstein’s famous equation, E = mc^2, the sun and other stars wouldn’t shine. In the sun’s core, intense conditions fuse four hydrogen atoms into a helium atom, converting extra mass into energy, which appears as sunlight on our planet.