General relativity:
Theory dealing with how massive object bend or warp space and time around themselves.

Special relativity:
Theory dealing with the effects of motion at near light speeds.

Postulates of Special Relativity: 
Two fundamental assumptions that form the basis of the theory of special relativity.

Classical/Newtonian Physics: 
Physics based upon Newton’s laws.  These laws work very well for motion that is not near the speed of light.  This physics is inaccurate for near light speed motion.

Relativistic Physics: 
Physics that describes the behavior of object that move at nearly the speed of light.  At low speeds, it simplifies to agree with Newtonian physics.

Correspondence principle: 
Any new theory must agree with an old theory when the old theory gives a correct result.

Time dilation: 
The slowing down of time in a frame of reference moving at relativistic speeds. 

Twin paradox: 
An apparent contradiction where one twin takes a high speed trip and returns with a different age compared to the other twin.

Muon: 
A subatomic particle with a very short life span.  When moving at very high speeds, it seems to exist for a longer period of time.  This is one experimental piece of evidence that supports the theory of special relativity.

Length contraction: 
The shrinking of a distance or length due to motion at relativistic speeds.

Rest energy: 
The energy of mass itself, as given by the equation E=mc2

Frame of Reference: 
A viewpoint or set of coordinate axes to which position and motion can be described.

This tutorial describes the new physics discovered by Einstein that explain the behavior of objects when they travel at nearly the speed of light.  The formulation of these ideas is based upon two postulates of special relativity.  They two concepts may seem a bit unusual, but the theory of special relativity has stood up to experimental scrutiny.  This theory gives some strange results too.  When traveling at nearly the speed of light, time runs fasters for some observers, length contract, momentum increases, and velocities don’t add up like you think they should.  These unusual results aren’t completely at odds with classical Newtonian physics.  Newtonian physics don’t work for these high velocities.  However, the theory of relativity simplifies to agree with Newtonian physics and give the same results when used at low velocities. 

Specific Tutorial Features:

• Animations depicting length contraction, relativistic velocity addition, frames of reference, and time dilation.

Series Features:

• Concept map showing inter-connections of new concepts in this tutorial and those previously introduced.
  
• Definition slides introduce terms as they are needed.
  
• Visual representation of concepts
  
• Animated examples—worked out step by step
  
• A concise summary is given at the conclusion of the tutorial.

General relativity vs. special relativity

Postulates of special relativity

• First postulate:  Inertia frames of reference
  
• Second postulate:  Constant value of c

Time dilation

• Derivation of time dilation factor
  
• Muon example
  
• Twin paradox
  
• Space travel example

Length contraction

Relativistic momentum

Mass and energy equivalence

• Relativistic energy
  
• Rest energy
  
• Energy conversion example
  
• Absolute speed limit

Correspondence principle