Special Relativity Special relativity is a theory that has been accepted by physics as a theory relating to the relationship between space and time. This theory is really important for physics and for all physics teachers like you because special relativity explains the observed fact that the speed of light remains and remains constant regardless of the direction or speed of its motion. Special relativity now plays an important role in astronomical observation. Special relativity is more specifically about speed. To be even more precise this speed deals with 299,792,458 ms-1, which is the speed of light, i.e. the speed at which light travels (in meters) in one second. This theory, developed by the greatest genius of all time, Albert Einstein in 1905. To allow simpler, less brilliant people, who did not have his brain and his ability to learn, he developed two simple postulates that managed to explain this strange fact. In the process, he came up with numbers even stranger than the idea itself. According to his original theory, the relationship between time and light, time actually slows down for objects moving at speeds close to the speed of light. The objects themselves will become shorter and heavier. This crazy theory has since been proven with various experiments that have proven its truth. This plays an important role in astronomical observation. Relativity comes in two forms, one known as Special and one known as General. The first postulate of Einstein's theory states that if two frames move relative to each other at constant speed, the physical laws are the same in one as in the other. As an example we can use a person at the train station. When... middle of paper... to the people on the train, time would seem normal even though the viewer might think that time passes more slowly for him. Special Relativity is the theory, developed by the great and powerful Einsteins, stating that no matter what speed, keeping it constant, you are travelling, all the laws of physics are the same. General relativity states that when you are at rest, the gravitational field and the accelerating field are physically identical. These laws help further explain the fact that even if you move, no matter which way or direction, the laws of physics end up working the same way. So even if you were moving, you could treat yourself as if you were actually resting. myths/relativity.htm http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/sat2/physics/chapter19section1.rhtml