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Theory of Relativity    Background Information: > > Technolo gy: >
 * The theory of special relativity concerns time and space. It states that distance and time are not absolute, they are relative.
 * According to the theory, the speed of light is the same for all observers regardless of relative motion (Lightman).
 * It also claims the laws of nature are equal in all inertial frames. Nothing can travel faster than the speed of light (Lightman). [[image:http://www.dreamstime.com/theory-of-relativity-thumb3733903.jpg width="165" height="136" align="right" caption="According to Einstein's theory of relativity, the gravity of any mass can cause a warping of time and space."]]
 * The theory of general relativity states that gravity can affect intervals of time and space (Lightman).
 * The key idea is the equivalence principle.
 * This states that gravity pulling in one direction is equal to an acceleration in the opposing direction.
 * If gravity is equal to acceleration and motion affects measurements of time and space, so does gravity. T he gravity of any mass causes space and time to warp (Lightman).
 * The theory of special relativity paved way for technological advances. GPS uses satellites around the world to determine location and configure directions.
 * One such advance is the synchronization of the global positioning system (GPS) satellites.
 * GPS is comprised of twenty-four satellites in 12-hour orbits carrying atomic clocks (Dunbar).[[image:http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/gps-6.jpg width="200" height="119" align="right" caption="Satellites (pictured above) carry atomic clocks which aid in GPS. "]]
 * The clocks are capable of accurately locating things on Earth or near Earth. ( Van Flandern)
 * The theory of general relativity suggests that clocks in a more powerful gravitational field tick at slower rates( Van Flandern ).
 * Special relativity suggests that clock in motion will appear to tick at slower rates than stationary clocks ( Van Flandern)
 * Because of this, the clocks are reset in an appropriate rate to compensate for the differences before launched.
 * After they are launched the clocks are observed and compared using the theories of relativity. The clocks should run at the same time as ground clocks if the predictions of general and special relativity are correct.

Intellectual: >  Economic:
 * the theory of relativity worked in favor of a new way of thinking.
 * philosophers and politicians used in the theories to try and change moral philosophy, promoting philosophic relativism
 * some argued there is absolute truth and absolute way to approach situations (Arora).
 * with the theories there is no longer an absolute right or wrong (Arora).
 * everything depends on point of view
 * also plays role, things such as: bias, background, and religion
 * the application to nuclear energy production is a positive impact on the economy of the society
 * nuclear energy helped to fight dependence on nonrenewable resources for energy
 * if these resources are ever no longer available, nuclear energy will draw people to fulfill their energy needs (Arora)
 * as it becomes more readily accepted, it will cost less than the rising cost of oil and use of non-renewable resources

The theory of special relativity, which concerns time and space, suggests that time and distance are relative, depending on point of view. The theory of general relativity states the gravity of any mass can warp space and time, because of the equivalence principle and the fact that acceleration and motion can affect measurements of time and space. GPS is one effect of the application of special relativity to real world situations. The theory of relativity as a whole changed the thought process of people because some believed that nothing was absolute anymore. They argued that there was no longer an absolute right and wrong, instead it depended on each individual's point of view, which was affected by factors such as: bias, religion, social class, and background. Economically, the application of the theory of relativity helped through the discovery and development of nuclear energy. This will help to aid in the country's dependence on non-renewable resources, such as oil.

Arora, Hans. "Einstein’s Theory of Relativity: Implications Beyond Science? — Science in Society." __Home — Science in Society__. 20 Oct. 2008. 5 Feb. 2009 .

This website discusses Einstein's theories of relativity and the applications on science. Also it discusses Einstein's background. It is a credible website because it is run by Northwestern University.

Dunbar, Brian. "NASA - Relativity ." __NASA - Home__. 29 Nov. 2007. 5 Feb. 2009 .

This article discusses special relativity and general relativity in detail. Motion and time dilation are also described as well as the Lorentz-Fitzgerald experiment. NASA is a well known organization and therefore it is a credible website.

Van Flandern, Tom. "What the Global Positioning System Tells Us about Relativity." __Meta Research__. 5 Feb. 2009 .

This website gives insight on the theories of relativity, more specifically the application of the theories on GPS. It also discusses the speed of light and if it is truly constant. It is a reliable article from a graduate of the university of Maryland and a member of the meta research team; also, it has citations.

Lightman, Alan. "NOVA | Einstein's Big Idea | Relativity (Lightman Essay) | PBS." __PBS__. 5 Feb. 2009 . This article is about the theory of relativity, more specifically, special relativity and general relativity. It also covers collapsed stars and discusses how the theory as a whole began. There are also pictures featured in the article and a very brief statement of the authors background. This website is credible because it is a science based website through a well known source, PBS NOVA. Also, it provides credentials of the author.

"What is nuclear energy?." __Alternate Energy Sources For A Flourishing Future__. 5 Feb. 2009 .

This article is about the theory of relativity, more specifically, special relativity and general relativity. It also covers collapsed stars and discusses how the theory as a whole began. There are also pictures featured in the article and a very brief statement of the authors background. This website is credible because it is a science based website through a well known source, PBS NOVA. Also, it provides credentials of the author.

"GPS Reviews." __GPS Gazette__. 5 Feb. 2009 . (GPS picture) "HowStuffWorks "GPS Calculations"." __Howstuffworks "Electronics Channel"__. 8 Feb. 2009 . [|(satellite picture)] "Stock Photo: Theory of Relativity." __High Resolution Stock Photography: Download Free Stock Photos and Royalty Free Images__. 8 Feb. 2009 . (clock picture)