The General Confusion
When I start asking anyone about The theory of relativity , the most basic confusion that comes out during discussion is that most people are unable to understand the concept of light's speed being constant with respect to every body of reference.And this is, I must say the Foundation stone of this theory. So today I feel a need to remove this confusion from the minds of my readers. Here We go.
So what makes the light of the speed to be constant. Those who know a bit more about this theory must know something about length contraction and time dilation.They must also be amazed about the need of these two concepts in this theory. But if we look at these two concepts from a near sight we find these concepts very important to lay the foundation of the Relativity.But before that I will explain Time dilation and Length contraction.Please note that the definition I give here will be general ones and the more precise ones will be given later in the upcoming chapters.
Length Contraction : The Length of a body in moving frame appears to be contracted.
Time Dilation: A clock in a moving frame will be seen to be running slow.
(Note: Time dilation also occurs when we observe a body standing far away from it and the body is near a body of very heavy Mass).
D= ct , where D is the distance, c is the speed of light and t be the time period with respect to the inertial frame of reference.
These two concepts can clearly explain the light's speed being constant.
Let us bring into action our old friend the railway carriage moving along the embankment. When the observer is on the embankment he sees the speed of light to be 'c' which is very obvious. But when the observer is on the Train the length contracts and time dilates according to the velocity of the train and adjusts themselves in such a way that still the ratio remains 'c' i.e. D'/t' = c.
Thus the speed of light remains constant.
Note: These two phenomenons of Length Contraction and Time Dilation depend upon the speed of the moving reference frame.
We will learn to calculate length contraction and time dilation in the next chapter.
Length Contraction : The Length of a body in moving frame appears to be contracted.
Time Dilation: A clock in a moving frame will be seen to be running slow.
(Note: Time dilation also occurs when we observe a body standing far away from it and the body is near a body of very heavy Mass).
D= ct , where D is the distance, c is the speed of light and t be the time period with respect to the inertial frame of reference.
These two concepts can clearly explain the light's speed being constant.
Let us bring into action our old friend the railway carriage moving along the embankment. When the observer is on the embankment he sees the speed of light to be 'c' which is very obvious. But when the observer is on the Train the length contracts and time dilates according to the velocity of the train and adjusts themselves in such a way that still the ratio remains 'c' i.e. D'/t' = c.
Thus the speed of light remains constant.
Note: These two phenomenons of Length Contraction and Time Dilation depend upon the speed of the moving reference frame.
We will learn to calculate length contraction and time dilation in the next chapter.
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