The three major conflicts in modern physics,Special and general relativity
The Three Major Conflicts
1.
Conflict between Newton’s law of motion and Maxwell’s law of electromagnetism: • Newton’s laws---run fast enough, you can catch up a beam of light.
• Maxwell’s electromagnetism---no matter how hard you chase after a light beam, it still retreats from you at light speed.
• This conflict gave birth to special theory of relativity
• According to special relativity, space and time depend on one’s state of motion.
1
2.
Conflict between Einstein’s special relativity and Newton’s law of universal gravitation.
• Special relativity---no influence or disturbance of any sort can travel faster than the speed of light. • Law of Universal gravitation---involves influences that are transmitted instantaneously over vast distances of space simultaneously. • This conflict gave birth to general relativity.
• According to general relativity--space and time can warp and curve in response to the presence of matter or energy--such distortions to the fabric of space and time transmit the force of gravity from one place to another at exactly the speed of light.
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3.
Conflict between general relativity and quantum mechanics:
• The gently curving geometrical form of space and time incompatible with the microscopic behavior implied by quantum mechanics. • What really happens to space, time and matter when crushed together at the moment of the big bang or at the central point of a black hole?
• The central problem of modern physics. 3
Special Relativity:
What happens if we chase after a beam of light, at light speed?
• According to Newton---we will catch up the light waves and they will appear stationary. • According to Maxwell---there is no such thing as stationary light.
Space and time as measured by distances and durations are not experienced identically by every one.
4
Postulates Of special relativity
1. The principle of relativity:
• There is no way for you to
determine
1.
Conflict between Newton’s law of motion and Maxwell’s law of electromagnetism: • Newton’s laws---run fast enough, you can catch up a beam of light.
• Maxwell’s electromagnetism---no matter how hard you chase after a light beam, it still retreats from you at light speed.
• This conflict gave birth to special theory of relativity
• According to special relativity, space and time depend on one’s state of motion.
1
2.
Conflict between Einstein’s special relativity and Newton’s law of universal gravitation.
• Special relativity---no influence or disturbance of any sort can travel faster than the speed of light. • Law of Universal gravitation---involves influences that are transmitted instantaneously over vast distances of space simultaneously. • This conflict gave birth to general relativity.
• According to general relativity--space and time can warp and curve in response to the presence of matter or energy--such distortions to the fabric of space and time transmit the force of gravity from one place to another at exactly the speed of light.
2
3.
Conflict between general relativity and quantum mechanics:
• The gently curving geometrical form of space and time incompatible with the microscopic behavior implied by quantum mechanics. • What really happens to space, time and matter when crushed together at the moment of the big bang or at the central point of a black hole?
• The central problem of modern physics. 3
Special Relativity:
What happens if we chase after a beam of light, at light speed?
• According to Newton---we will catch up the light waves and they will appear stationary. • According to Maxwell---there is no such thing as stationary light.
Space and time as measured by distances and durations are not experienced identically by every one.
4
Postulates Of special relativity
1. The principle of relativity:
• There is no way for you to
determine