Question about the theory of relativity.

[matthayzon89]

Hello,
I am fairly new to quantum physics and I recently became interested in Einstein and his accomplishments b/c I never knew why he was considered a genious and I was curious...

So, I took a few minutes to try to understand the way the theory of relativity works, which by the way, I am having a difficult time understanding... (can anyone break it down for me in an easy to understand way?)

What I DID get from Einsteins theory of relativity is that Energy= Mass * C^2 <-speed of light squared.

This implies that: if say a rock weighs .5 lbs and you multiply it by the speed of light squared, then you get the amount of potential energy that the rock might have. You locating the rock in the first place is do to having light hit the rock.

So, what if someone someone was in complete darkness with a plate somewhere in the room, the plate cannot be located b/c it is too dark. Since the speed of light does not apply to this case b/c we are in complete darkness, doesn't this theory incorrectly imply that the plate has little to NO potential energy, since the light in the room is near zero?

 

[Mike_Fontenot]

Find Einstein's little paperback, "Relativity", by Crown publishers, and spend some quality time with it.

 

[TheTechNoir]

To my understanding the answer to your question is:

There may be a low abundance of photons (light carrying particles) or even a complete absence of photons but it still doesn't change the speed of light. The potential energy of an object doesn't have any correlation to whether or not there is enough light for our eyes to observe it or for it to be observed at all, just using that formula and the fixed non-changing speed of light. The amount or intensity of the light has no effect on the formula.

 

[LBrandt]

The formula specifies the potential energy of a given quantity of mass times the "value" of the velocity of light (squared). You don't need a photon present in order to use the "value" of the square of the velocity of a photon.

When you solve an equation, you substitute actual numerical values for the constants and variables in the equation. In the case of E=mc^2 , you substitute for the letter "c", its actual numerical value.

 

[MillerGenuine]

I am fairly new to quantum physics and I recently became interested in Einstein and his accomplishments

Just FYI, quantum physics has nothing to do with Einsteins work. Einstein's work is known as General Relativity. Both quantum physics and General relativity make up what we call Modern Physics.

So, I took a few minutes to try to understand the way the theory of relativity works

Its great that you have an interest in physics but to try taking a few minutes to understand Einstein's theories is just impossible. Try taking a few years, at least. I am not attempting to insult your intelligence but to learn modern physics you must learn it gradually from the beginning. You should take an intro to physics class and start small, learn some basics before you jump into General Relativity and Quantum mechanics. But keep up the interest.

 

[Passionflower]

Just FYI, quantum physics has nothing to do with Einsteins work. Einstein's work is known as General Relativity. Both quantum physics and General relativity make up what we call Modern Physics.

So you think that quantum theory has nothing to do with the special theory of relativity? Or do you think that the special theory of relativity is not Einstein's work? I am confused by your answers. How can one possibly do quantum theoretical calculations without using special relativity?

 

[MillerGenuine]

Maybe I tend to use some of my words losely, and for that I appologize. Clearly GR is Einstein's work, the point I was trying to make is that GR is GR and QM is QM. They are two different areas of physics.