Special Relativity's Effect on European History
Advancement of European Astrophysics Due to the Special Theory of Relativity
Samuel Winter
European History
Mr. Sullivan
2/10/2014
Over the past one hundred years, knowledge has advanced faster than many had anticipated. The first aircraft flew in 1903, and the first man reached the moon only sixty six years later. Over the past ten years, cell phones and computers have become part of everyday life, a stark contrast to what they had been merely forty years ago. What was science fiction in the sixties and seventies is now the technology of yesteryear. Physics has changed along with technology. Scientists can now predict events millions, even billions of years in the future. We’ve developed safer nuclear technology, and are striving toward energy through fusion in the coming years. We have developed all of these because of the theories of Albert Einstein. He ushered in modern physics, a model of observing our universe that left many scientists dumbfounded with how profound it was. At first, many couldn’t accept his Special Theory of Relativity because it strayed so far from what was at the time considered orthodox. Albert Einstein completely rewrote the proverbial book of physics. He was challenged many times, but he was always able to prove that his theories were more accurate. Even with the complexity of the math involved, Einstein was able to clearly explain his ideas to those who didn’t have the education required to understand the mathematical genius that lay behind his equations. The coming of modern physics has completely revolutionized our world, and the way we observe the universe around us. Over the past ten years we’ve discovered the Higgs boson, different types of neutrinos and quarks, and we’ve observed the cosmic background radiation. Because of the Special Theory of Relativity and Albert Einstein’s stance
Samuel Winter
European History
Mr. Sullivan
2/10/2014
Over the past one hundred years, knowledge has advanced faster than many had anticipated. The first aircraft flew in 1903, and the first man reached the moon only sixty six years later. Over the past ten years, cell phones and computers have become part of everyday life, a stark contrast to what they had been merely forty years ago. What was science fiction in the sixties and seventies is now the technology of yesteryear. Physics has changed along with technology. Scientists can now predict events millions, even billions of years in the future. We’ve developed safer nuclear technology, and are striving toward energy through fusion in the coming years. We have developed all of these because of the theories of Albert Einstein. He ushered in modern physics, a model of observing our universe that left many scientists dumbfounded with how profound it was. At first, many couldn’t accept his Special Theory of Relativity because it strayed so far from what was at the time considered orthodox. Albert Einstein completely rewrote the proverbial book of physics. He was challenged many times, but he was always able to prove that his theories were more accurate. Even with the complexity of the math involved, Einstein was able to clearly explain his ideas to those who didn’t have the education required to understand the mathematical genius that lay behind his equations. The coming of modern physics has completely revolutionized our world, and the way we observe the universe around us. Over the past ten years we’ve discovered the Higgs boson, different types of neutrinos and quarks, and we’ve observed the cosmic background radiation. Because of the Special Theory of Relativity and Albert Einstein’s stance