http://equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] equalsmcsquared.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2005-11-11 09:49 am
Entry tags:

Physics

Good afternoon, everyone. Sodas and snacks are near the roll sheet.

Today, we will be discussing Einstein's theory of relativity.

Newton's laws of motion give us a complete description of the behavior moving objects at low speeds. The laws are different at speeds reached by the particles at SLAC.

Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity describes the motion of particles moving at close to the speed of light. In fact, it gives the correct laws of motion for any particle. This doesn't mean Newton was wrong, his equations are contained within the relativistic equations. Newton's "laws" provide a very good approximate form, valid when v is much less than c. For particles moving at slow speeds (very much less than the speed of light), the differences between Einstein's laws of motion and those derived by Newton are tiny. That's why relativity doesn't play a large role in everyday life. Einstein's theory supercedes Newton's, but Newton's theory provides a very good approximation for objects moving at everyday speeds.

Einstein's theory is now very well established as the correct description of motion of relativistic objects, that is those traveling at a significant fraction of the speed of light.

Because most of us have little experience with objects moving at speeds near the speed of light, Einstein's predictions may seem strange. However, many years of high energy physics experiments have thoroughly tested Einstein's theory and shown that it fits all results to date.

[identity profile] 12parseckessel.livejournal.com 2005-11-11 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Han signs in and takes notes.

He takes notes, knowing this is the basis for how his lady actually works.
He resists putting up a hand to ask about hyperspace.

[identity profile] whitedeathpod.livejournal.com 2005-11-11 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
John signs in and starts taking notes in his notebook. He doodles some too and crosses out a lot of it in an attempt to hide the evidence.

[identity profile] pyramid-is-life.livejournal.com 2005-11-11 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Kara signs in and sits down, pulling out her notebook.
swerval_zero: (Default)

[personal profile] swerval_zero 2005-11-11 06:30 pm (UTC)(link)
*signs in, takes a soda, and starts taking notes*

[identity profile] dorky-broots.livejournal.com 2005-11-11 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Broots tore off a piece of notebook paper, scribbled a note on it and tossed it at Zero's desk.

Hey, how you been? Staying away from homicidal lockers?
swerval_zero: (cute Zero)

[personal profile] swerval_zero 2005-11-11 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Far away. Very squallin' far away. I'm swerval. You?

*tosses it back while Miss Sidle isn't looking*

[identity profile] dorky-broots.livejournal.com 2005-11-11 10:14 pm (UTC)(link)
As well. Have you seen the new animals roaming the halls?
swerval_zero: (Default)

[personal profile] swerval_zero 2005-11-11 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
The frogs? Yeah, we've got an infestation on the second floor + they keep hopping around the social sciences section in the library. Makes shelving a pain.

[identity profile] dorky-broots.livejournal.com 2005-11-11 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Frogs? I was talking about the flying dog and talking cat.
swerval_zero: (Default)

[personal profile] swerval_zero 2005-11-11 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Guess the frogs haven't reached you guys yet. I'm actually responsible for the flying dog. And isn't the talking cat Alanna's?

[identity profile] dorky-broots.livejournal.com 2005-11-11 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
If they touch the speakers in my room, they're dead. The frogs that is. How'd you turn it into a flying one? And I dunno, I just saw it walking around.
swerval_zero: (Default)

[personal profile] swerval_zero 2005-11-11 10:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Vladdie's actually a vampire puppy. Apparently his kind of vampire can fly.

[identity profile] dorky-broots.livejournal.com 2005-11-11 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
... ... ... ... ... Can Angelus fly?
swerval_zero: (Default)

[personal profile] swerval_zero 2005-11-11 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
*tears out a new scrap of paper*

Not that I know of. Vladdie's an entirely different kind.
swerval_zero: (Default)

[personal profile] swerval_zero 2005-11-11 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
You said it.

[identity profile] sheltered-texan.livejournal.com 2005-11-11 08:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Fred comes in, looking at the board grinning. Einstein was her hero afterall.

[identity profile] dorky-broots.livejournal.com 2005-11-11 08:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Broots signs in and takes notes on his laptop.