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noun(physics) the theory that space and time are relative concepts rather than absolute conceptstype of:
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nounthe quality of being relative and having significance only in relation to something elsetype of:
Definition that contains relativity
- event a phenomenon located at a single point in space-time; the fundamental observational entity in relativity theory
- einstein physicist born in Germany who formulated the special theory of relativity and the general theory of relativity; Einstein also proposed that light consists of discrete quantized bundles of energy (later called photons) (1879-1955)
- classical (physics) relating to or based on concepts that preceded the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics
- dirac English theoretical physicist who applied relativity theory to quantum mechanics and predicted the existence of antimatter and the positron (1902-1984)
- relativistic relating or subject to the special or the general theory of relativity
- cosmological constant an arbitrary constant in the equations of general relativity theory
- michelson-morley experiment a celebrated experiment conducted by Albert Michelson and Edward Morley; their failure to detect any influence of the earth's motion on the velocity of light was the starting point for Einstein's theory of relativity
- general relativity theory a generalization of special relativity to include gravity (based on the principle of equivalence)
- special relativity a physical theory of relativity based on the assumption that the speed of light in a vacuum is a constant and the assumption that the laws of physics are invariant in all inertial systems
- einstein's general theory of relativity a generalization of special relativity to include gravity (based on the principle of equivalence)