Explain why the term acceleration is important to the first postulate of special relativity

What will be an ideal response?


The first postulate states that the laws of physics are the same for all observers, no matter what their motion, so long as they are not accelerated. The word accelerated is important. If either spaceship were to fire its rockets, then its velocity would change. The crew of that ship would know it because they would feel the acceleration pressing them into their couches. Accelerated motion, therefore, is different—the pilots of the spaceships can always tell which ship is accelerating and which is not. The postulates of relativity discussed here apply only to the special case of observers in uniform motion, which means unaccelerated motion. That is why the theory is called the special theory of relativity.

Physics & Space Science

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What is the potential difference between the ends of bulb A?



A. 1.5 V
B. 1.2 V
C. 0.5 V
D. 0.3 V
E. 0.15 V
F. Some other value (specify)

Physics & Space Science

A star radiates most strongly at 600 nanometers. What is its surface temperature?

A. 7,250 K B. 483 K C. 6,000 K D. 72,500 K E. 4,830 K

Physics & Space Science

Although tornadoes occur in many parts of the world, they are very common

A) along the Gulf Coast. B) in the northeastern part of the United States. C) in the Central Plains. D) on the western slopes of the Rockies.

Physics & Space Science

Suppose that the energy difference between adjacent energy levels for an oscillator in an Einstein solid is ? = 0.005 eV. At room temperature, the value of T/TE is

A. quite a bit smaller than 1 B. about equal to 0.5. C. about equal to 1. D. about equal to 2. E. quite a bit larger than 2. F. One doesn’t have enough information to tell.

Physics & Space Science