BLOCK 1 THE SPECIAL THEORY OF

A l k r t Einstein (1877-1955)
What is it that you think of when you hear or see the word relativity?' m e name of Albert
Einstein? Or the equation E = m?? Or a vision of astronauts who return young From their
trips to space lasting many y m s ? 774s signifies the enormous intellectual impact (even after
almost a hulltired ycars) of what Einstein called his special theory of relativity. The
development of this theory is rightly regarded as one of the greatest strides ever made in our
way of understanding tlie physical world. And yet the basic concept of relativity is as old as
the mechanics of Galileo and Newton. So what did Eistein do to make his name almost
synonymous with rklativily?
At the beginning of the twentieth century, two great and be;lutiful theories were known in
physical sciences -Newtonian mechanics and Maxwell's eleclmdynamics. Both of them
gave a unified explanation of countless physical phenomena. These theories were expressed
in concise mathematical language within a certain conceptual framework. You have studied
both these Uleories in Block 1 of PHE-01 (Elementary Mechanics) and Block 4 of PHE-07
(Electric and Magnetic Phenomena), respectively. You have also learnt of the numerous
applications of t h ~ theories.
e Both theories have been confirmed many a times; and they
have been extraordinarily successful in their predictions. And yet these two theories were
conceprually in conmdiction with one mother!
What was this conmdiction? Unit 1 of this block explains it as well as the dilemma which
occupied the best minds of the time in the physical sciences. How was this contmdiction
resolved? Its solution was provided by none other than Albert Einstein, He resolved the
contradictions as he saw them and formulated a new theory based on two new principles,
These two principles led Eistein to a new view of space and time about which you will
study in Unit 2. Naturally, a radically new attitude to the notions of space and time resulted
in changes in well-established areas of physics. In Unit 3, we shall discuss the new
mechanics that replaced Newtonian mechanics as a result of these changes.
What we had, in effect, was an Einstcinian revolution. Its impact far exceeds that of the
Copernican revolution and has rarely been equalled in thc t~isloryof physics. We have tried
our be-' to bring to you the beauty and logic of the special theory of.rclativity. We hope that
you will appreciate and enjoy studying it as much as we did presenting i t We wish you good
luck.
 UNIT 1 EMERGENCE OF SPECIAL
RELATIVITY

Structure
1.1 ~ntroduction
Objectives

1.2 Classical Relativity

Galilean Coordinate Transformations
Galilean Principle of ~ e l a i i v i t ~

1.3 Electromagnetism and Classical Relativity

Problems of Relativiry vis-a-vis Laws of Electromagnetism
Galilean'Rslalivity and the Speed of Light
Attempts ro Locate the Absolute Frame -The Michelson-Morley Experiment

1.4 The Special Theory of Relativity,

The Principle of Relativity
The Principle of Consulncy of Speed of Light

1.5 Summary
1.6 Terminal Questions
1.7 Solutions and Answers

1.1 INTRODUCTION
You have studied Newtonian mechanics in your school science courses and in your first
physics elective entitled 'Elementary Mechanics' (PHE-01). You are familh with the
concept of incrtial frames of reference. You know that Newton's laws of motion are the
same in all inertial kames of referenc~You must have recognized the validity of this
statement in everyday life. An objecf moves in the same way in a uniformly moving train
or an aeroplane as it does on earth. For instance, when you walk, drop a coin or h w a ball
up in the air while riding in such a train or aeroplane, the bodies move just as they do on
earth. Both Galileo and Newton were deeply aware or lhis principle that the laws of
mechanics are the same in all inertial reference fimes; his is the classical principle of
relativity. So the classical notion of relativity is not new to you. However, you have not
encountered this terminology beforc. Therefore, we shall begin this unit with a brief review of
I the classid notion of relativity as embodied in the works of Galileo and Newton.
I
You know that Newtonian Mechanics was highly successful in describing motion in the
world of our evcryday experiences. Then why did the need arise for re-examining
1 Newtonian mechanics and the notion of relativity it con~ained?The need arose when the
classical principle of relalivity was applied to thc propagation of electromagnetic w a v p
and that led to certain inconsistcncies. In Scc. 1.3, you will learn about some of these
inconsistencies i n d find that the Newtonian relativistic world view could not easily
.incorporate the laws of electromagne~ism.The question is: What replaced it? It was
replaced by a radically different way of understanding the world when, in 1905, Albert "What I sce in Nature is cr
magnificent structw, which we
Einstein proposed his special theory of relativity. In the last section (1.4) of this unit you
will study the main features of this theory.
, only valy
imperfectly, and that mua fill a
thinking penron with a fcaling of
In brief, what we intend to say in this unit is this: Einstein was not the first to i n d u c e humility."
relativistic notions in physics. What he did was to generalise the classical notion of -~lbertEinstein, 194415
relativity (applicable only p mechanics) to all physical phenomena. Although we will go into
some detail of the background in which Einstein's special relativity emerged, it will not
necessarily be a historical description. We will simply bri?g out the factors which induced
scientisk to change,their concepts in so radical a manner, In this process we hope that you wiU
be able to appreciate and understand the special theory of relativity much bcwr.
In the next unit, you will learn about the consequences of the special theory of rclulivily.
In particular, you will understand in what way special relativity altered the established
notions of space and time.
 'Phe Sp:lpp.dnlfhcr'wy ' Objectives
dl Rel~tlviry
After studying iris unit you should be able to
i use the Galilean coordinate transformations to describe events in dirferent inertial
fmmes of reference
explain the Galilean principle of relativity and state why ir. became necessary to
genaaliseit
a state the postulates of'spechl thcory of relativity
c apply the principle of relativity to physical phenomena
p compare the nature of tins 'in classical relativity and the special theory of relativity.

Study Guide
This unit presents the background out of which the special theory of relativity emerged.
merefore, we shall be using many concepts and ideas from our earlier physics courses.
We swngly advise you to go through the Block 1 of PIE-01 (Elementary Mechanics),
Block 4 of PHE-07 (Electric and hhgnedc Phenomena) and Block 2 of PHE-09 (Optics)
before siudying this unit. It will help you it1 understanding the ideas presented in Sec. 1.2
and 1.3 better,and in less time. In our estimate, you should take abut 6 to 7h to complete
this unit.

1.2 CLASSICAL RELATIVITY

You may like ,"d:owhen:Scfhe 2.2,1

os Untr 2. PW-01
lo YOU have studied the concepts of inertial frames of reference and relative motion in Unit 1
of PHE-01.You are familiar with the relationship between the velocity and acceleration of
cunccpl or an ~ncnialclbserver has art object measured wiih respect to two inertial frames in uniform relative motion. You
d'3cussed" dc'i'# we
have also studied &e laws of Newtonian Mechanics in Unit 2 of PIE-01.Here we shall
kave snid hem for inertial
vbctver applies to an inertial use these concepts to explain briefly the notion of classical or Galilean relativity.
framc of reference.
Let us begin by considering a physic4 event. An idealised version of an event is that
it is something that happens at a point in space and at an instant in time. While
discussing the theory of relativity, Einstein often used this dramatic example of an
event-lightning strikes the ground. A small explosion is an equally dramatic event.
You can think of several other examples of an event. There are two basic questions
that wc can ask about any event:
Where did it take place?
When did it take place?
How do we answer these questions? As you are well aware, we specify an event by four
-
measurements in a particular frame of reference three for the position and one for the
time I. We usually fix the position of the event by the Cartesian coordinates (x, y, 2). You
kave rnsed the Cartesian coordinate system quite often in your physics elective courses, For
example, two particles rnay*collident x = lrn, y = 2m, z = 3m and at Lime r = 4s in one
frame of reference such as a laboratory on the earth. Then the four numbers (1, 2 , 3 , 4 )
specify ohe event in that reference frame: the first three numbers specify its position and
the f o h the time at which it occurred.

Thus, we must Fmt establish a frame of reference to accurately describe where and when
an event happens. You know that for describing an event we are free to use any frame of
reference we wish. In this course we shall restrict our study to what are called inertial
reference frames, Recall that
An inertial bame is r fkame of reference in which Newton's first law holds true.

So in an inertial fnme of reference, objects at rest remain at rest and objects moving
unifomly in a straight line continue to do so, unlcss acted upon by a not external force.
From this conccpt you can readily conclude that
Any frame that moves with constant velocity relative to an inertial frame is also an
inertial frame.
 '

-
Emergence of Spnlal
would you like to test whether you understand the concept of an inerhl frame of Rclatlvfty
reference before studying further? If so, WY tire following SAQ.
S~nd
SAQ 1 2' min
classify
the following frsmes of rcfcnnce as inertial and non-inertial (i.c., fn?mes which
m not inertid). The frames atrslchd to
a) a car in circub motion
b) spaceships cruising lonifOrm1~

e) an apple at rest on a fixed table in you m ~ n . -.

Suppose now that we have made .space and time measurements describing an event in one
inefiial frame of reference. We want to describe the same event in mother inertial frame
of reference. For example, consider the following event. A boy throws a ball vertically
upwards in a trdn moving at a uniform velocity with respcct to the ground. In the frame
of reference arlachd to the train, the ball gms straight up and comes down along the
same palh. Wow how do we describe the ball's motion in another frame of refcrcnce
atlached to the ground?
We can use the Cjalilean coordinate transformaeians to describe an event iri different
inertial frames of reference. Let us briefly study the Galilean coordinate transformations.

B,2.B Galilean Coordinate Transformations.

Consider an inertial Erne S and another frame S' which moves ae n conslant velocity u
with respect to S (Fig. 1.1). We define the x-axis (and the x'-axis) to be alor~gthe direction
of motion. We tlssume the other two axes ( y, z ) and ( y',sl ) lo be pmallcl to cach other -
y parallel to y' and z paraillel to a', Further, we define the origin of lirnc, 1 = 0, LObe the
instant when the origins of the two coordinate systems coincide, i.e., whcn point 0'
coincides with 0.

A
Flg.l.1: TWO Inertial m e s of reference S and S', S' moves with a constant vclaclty u (= u 1 ) with
respect to S so that the x-X' axis is common auld the y-y', x-z' axes are parllel. Aa seen horn
l k m e 5; S moves d& a vdodty -u,I.Q., at a speed u In the negvlive x dlrectlan. Point
P represents an event whose space-time coordlnotos cw be meosured by observes In S
and S'. The odglns 0 and 0' mlncide at tlme wo and ('SO. You can see that x = x' + ul,
y'syandi=z

Suppose Fat an event E occurs at point P . Let us assume that any measurcrncnt in the two
h e s sf rcfwence are being made by observers who have jointly calibrated their meve
 I'hr Sp.cl&l Theory sticks and clocks. The observer attached to ascribes Lhc coordinates x, y, z, r to P and the
nf Relativity observcr attached u> S' specifies tile same event by x', y', 2' and r'. The coordinates (x, y, Z)
give the position of P relative to 0 as measured by observer S and I is the time at which E
occurs s recorded by the clock af S.The cwrdinates (x',y',z? give the position of P with
respect to 0' and 1' is the time at which E occurs according to the clock of S.For
simplicity, the clocks of each observer read zero at the instant that the origins 0 and 0'of
the frames S and S' coincide.
What is thc relationship between (x, y, z, r) and (x',y',z',t')? The Galilean coordinate
transformation (see Fig. I .l) relates these measurements as follows:

We can write the generalized Galilean msformation in vector notation as fallows:

where, r is the position vestor of P in S and r' in S '. Under our simplifying 'assumptions
u = ui, and Eqs.(1.2~1,b) reduce to Eqs. (1.1).
Differentiating Eq. (1.2a) with respect to t gives
dr'- -- dr
- -U = v- U
dl dt
dr' = -
But since t = t', - - v'. Hence, wc get
dr'
. dr dl'
v' = v- u
Differentiating Eq. (1.3a) with respect to t and using Eq, (1.2b) we get
a' = a, since u is constant. (1.3b)
i1
1
You hdvc encou~i!ercd
Eqs. ( M a mad b) ~n Scc. 1,5of The equation of motion is then given as 1
i
Unit 1, PHE-01. These nrc the
8qs. (1,37) and(1.38) givrn
thew
This means that we obtain the same law of motion in the frame S' as in the frame S. I
I
In relation to Eq. (1.4) we would like to ask another question, How does the force F
m s f o r m when we go from one frame to another? You know ihat forces considered in
I
!
mechanics depend either on distance (gravitational forces, elastic forces) or on relative
velocity (friction forces) and'on time ,interval. Sa let us find out how distance, relative
velocity and a time inteival change'under the Galilean coordinate transformations,
Suppose we investigate two objects P and Q. Let the force of their interaction depend on the
diamce between them, their relative velocity and time. From Eqs. (1.1) we can at once see
that th? distance between P and Q, measured at the same instant is the same in S and S:
YP - x t Q = x p -xe, ytP -Y'~ = yp -yQ, zPI - r e I =zp-za
or in vector notation
I
rtp - rtQ = 'P -re
On differentiating Eq,(1.5a) with respect to time we find that the relative velocity of P
with respecl to Q remains tfie same in bath the frames of reference.
(1.5a)
!
V> dQ = vp - vQ
'

Remernber Lhnt in arriving at Eq, (1.5b) we have also used the fact that Galilean
transformauori does not change time and so also the time interval between any two events
say A, and B:
 Hence, we can conclude that forces occurring in mechanics, that depend on time
intervals, distance and relative velocity, do not change under the Galilean
transformation. We say that forces remain invariant under Galilean transformation.
Thus, all the quantities appearing in Eq. (1.4) do not change under the Galilean
transformation. Therefore, the fundamental equation of classical mechanics - Newton's
second law - has the same form in a stationary frame S as in a m e S moving with
constant velocity with respect to S.With this information at our command, we are now
ready to present the classical principle of relativity, It is also called the Galilean
principle of relativity, since it was GaliIeo who first enunciated it, although its
mathematical basis given above was provided only later by Isaac Newton.

1.2.2 Galilean Principle of Relativity

Eqs. (1.5a and b) and (1.6) tell us that according to the Galilean tramfornations the tima
interval, space interval (distance) and relative velocity measurements and hence the f o m
law in mechanics is the same in all inertial frames. The relative velocity of the h m e s can
be arbitrary and does not affect these results. Implicit in Eq. (1.4) is the basic postulate of
classical mechanics that the mass of a body is constant, i.e., it is an invariant quantity.
So what do Newtonian mechanics and Galilean transformation put together imply? The
-
length, mass and time the three basic quantities in mechanics - as well as forces (which
depend upon time interval, space interval and relalive velocity) are independent of the
relative motion of an inertial observer. The laws of mechanics hold good in all inertial
frames of reference. Thus, we arrive at the classical or Galilean principle of relativity:
The laws of mechanics can be written in the same'form in all inertial frames. If
they hold in one inertial frame, they will also hold in all other inertial frames.
It is a limited principle of relativity in Lhat it applies to only the laws of mechanics. Let us
understand with the help of a simple example what the Galilean principle of relativity
means. Suppose you arc in a car which is moving at a constant spced and yqu cannot
look out. Then to you, all mechanical experiments performed and all rnechailical
phenomena occurring in the car will appear the same as if the car were not moving. For
instance, a ball thrown vertically upwards will aIways fall down along the same path.
No mechanical experiment perlormed in the car could help you determine whelher it was
moving uniformly or was at rest provided, of course, you did not look out. This is what
we mean when we say that if the laws of mechanics are true in one inertial frame of
reference, they will be true and of the same form in any other inertial frame as well. Thus,
as far as mechanics is concerned there is no preferred inertial frame of reference in
which alone the classical laws have the most basic form. Therefore, there is no
absolute frame of reference.,
You may like to pause for a while and find out whether you have understood these ideas.
Try the following SAQ.

SAQ 2 Spend
2 nritr
a) Does the fact that Eq. (! .4) is invariant under Galilean transformation mean that all
inerlial observers will masure the same values for thc position, time; velocity, energy
and momentum corresponding to an event?
b) Me the laws of conse~ationof linear momentuni and energy invariant under Galilcan
transformation?

An interesting aspect of the classical principle of relativity pertains ta the nature of space
and time. And we would like you to know about it.

Absolute Space and Absolute Time

You have just studied that according to Newtonian mechanics and Galilean relativity, the
measurements of length (relative position), mass, time and thcir relationship ate
independent of the relative motion of an inertial observer. They do not depend on which ,
 inenjd observer measures them. This implies that there exist absolute space intenrals and
absolute time intervals in Newtonian mechanics. In other words we may say that space
and time exist in themselves and have-properties that do not depend upon anything else.
In Newton's own words: "Absolute space, in ils own nature, without relation to mything
external, remains always similar and immovable." So accarding to Newton, space
represents a giant empty box which contains material objects and various physical
phenomena take place in it, and it does not get:affected by these. Likewise time is thought
to flow absolutely, uniformly and evenly without k i n g affected by any actual events hat
happen as time passes. Once again we quou: Newton: "Absolute, bnrC arad mathematical
time, of itself, and from'its own nature, flows equably without relation to anything
external, and is otherwise called duration".
Thus, in Newton's world-view space and time are things external in relation to nature.
Further, there is no relationship between space and Lime - the properties of space are
determined independenlly of movements of objects with the passage of time; the flow of
time is independent of the spatial properties of such objects.
In a nutshell, as per Newtonian ideas, space and time exist by themselves, independent
of each other and do not depend on material bodies located in space or physical
phenomena occurring therein.
We have. briefly i n d u c e d lhese ideas here so that you are able to appreciate the
difficulties that arose when the classical principle of relativity was applied to electricity,
magnetism and optics. Let us now study how classical relativity proved to be inconsistent
wilh Lhc laws of elecmmaynetisrn.

1.3 ELECIROMAGNETPSM AND CLASSICAL

RELATIVITY
kbu have thus far studied that the Galilean principle of relativity applies to mechanical
phenomena. The question that arises next is: Do other laws of physics (e.g., the laws of
elcctmmaynctism and optics) have the same form in all inertial frames? In oU~erwords,
are they invariant under a Ga1ileh.n wansforn-iation?
In fact, when the principle of relativity was applied to Maxwell's equations, certain
problems arose immediately - they did not scem to obey it. Let us briefly outline some
of these problems.

1.3.1 Problems of Relativity vis-a-vis Laws of Electromsgnetisrn

Let us first consider a simple example of two equal, positive point charges carrying chiuge
l q, as shown in Fig. 1.2a. We will first examine the system as seen by an observer in the
reference frame S'.

I
As you can see in Fig. 1.2a one charge rests at the origin of S' and the other rests at a
distance y; on the y' axis of:S'. From Maxwell's equations we can determine the
elecuomagnetic force that b e charges at rest exert on each other in S:it is just the
electrostatic Coulomb force of magnitude Fc = 1 --
47c q,
6
yz'2 '

Let us now consider the electr6magnetic force from the point of view of S. This observer
sees the charge q unchanged and y, = &. So Coulomb's force law is unchanged. However,
I
the observer in S also sees both charges moving to h e right at a speed v. Now two
positive charges moving to the right constitute two coqventional parallel currents which
attract each other, Therefo~,the total force in $ has two components - the electrostatic
force of repulsion and the attractive force between parallel curents. We find that it is
diffeercntfrom the force in S'. But according to Newtonian physics, these forces should be
the same, This is an inconsistency (Fig. 1.2b).

Another problem arises when we try to transform Maxwell's equations according to

r
i
-

I
Galilean coordinate transformations they chahge their fonn. For example, the wave
quation for eleclmgnetic f ~ l d s deduced
, from Maxwell's equations does not nmain
*
I rj &t & (Sq'Unit 14 of PIE-07 entitled Electric and Magnetic Ptremena for

1
I
. 1
 Enlergencc of Spcelal
Relativity

1, .

Pig. 1.2 : (a) Two equnl podtivc poillt chnrgcs (currying cllurge q) at m t on the . y ' d $ of the frame
of reference s
'. In S' the charges repel each olhcr with a force of magnib~dedoc; @) as a t n
In S the charges are moving to (he right wfth a vclo~ityr nnd atlrmct each other wftR an
.
additionnl force of magnitude F A, glving R total force of nlegnilude ( Ec - F A I

Maxwell's equations and the electromag~leticwave exluation). It is a simple exercise and

you could try it out yourself.
--- Spend
SAQ 3 10 min
Show that the electromagnetic wave equation

does not relain its forml(i.e., il is not invariant) under the Galilean an sf om at ions
(Eq.1.1).
Hint: Use the chain rule in which if x is a function of (x', y', x', r3, lhcn for any functionf,

T k s , there seems to be a fundamentiil disagreement between Maxwell's theary of

electromagnetic fields, Newtonian mechanics and Galil~mprinciple of relativity.
Historically, this disagreement centred around the 'problem of ligtrt', We too would like to
focus on this problem. However, we shall confine ourselves only to one as&t of light,
namely its propagation, You know that one of the consequencesof Maxwell's equations is
that light is an electromagnetic wave which propagates in dl directions at the same sped
c = 3 x loams-l. Another consequence of Lhe equations is that if ilhesource of light is moving, the
light emitted still travels at the same speed c. This brings up m interesting problem when
Galilean relativity is applied to the propagation of light. Let us examine it in some detail.

1.3.2 Galilean Relativity and the Speed of Light

Tile wave nature of light was recbgnised even before Maxwell described its
electromagnetic nature (for example, in the works of Young, Huygens and FresnQ). A
search was on d find the medium in which light propagated, Sound waves require air to
propagate and ocean waves travel on water. So what was the medium for propagation of
light? Nineteenth century physicists believed .&that light propagated through a rarefied,
all-pervasive (space'filling) elastic medium chlled lurninefero~~s ether. It was assumed to
be so fine that planets and other hdavenly'bodies passed through it without appreciable
friction. p e n Maxwell described ihe electromagnetic nature of light waves, the
 'I'he Specinl Theory associated electric and magnetic ficlds werc visualiscd as stresses and1 strains in the elher.
or Rclallvity
It was in h i s medium that light propagated with a speed c = -
d&. . When the
Galilean principle ol relativity was applied to the propagation of light in ether, it led to an
inconsistency.
To understand the inconsistency, let us consider a tiame S with respect to which light travels
with velocity c. What is h e beIocity of light in a frame S' moving with a constan1 velocity u
with respect 10S? Wc cm carry oul the Galilean velocity uanslormation and obtain

whcre I v' I is the speed of light in S.Clearly the speed of light in S' depends on the
direction in which it is travelling. If c is in the direction of u, the speed of light in S' is
c - u. In h e direction opposile to u, ~ h speed
c O[ light in S is c + u. In any other
direction it has a value between c - u and c + u as givcn by Eq. (1.7). We can also see
that according to Galilean relativity principle, the speed of light would be different in
different inertial frames of reference. In olhcr words, Maxwell's equation would have to be
of difrerent forms in different inertial frames of reference, to give dilfercnt speeds of light
in those frames. So it appcars that Ihe Galilean principle of relativi~yis incompatible wilh
the laws of electromagnetism, which give a constant speed of light.
Now suppose we accept both the Galilean transformation and the laws of
electromagnetism (or Maxwell's equations) as basically correct. Thcn it follows
that thcte is one unique privileged inertial frarne of reference (the absolute frame)
in which Maxwell s e uations are valid. In this unique frame the speed of light
would be c = I/ d w h e r c a s in other frames it would be different.

Let us now put all thcse developments in physics which led lo+thespecial lheory of
relativity in a perspcctive. The situation towards the end of nineteenlh century seeml to be
as follows: The Galilean rclalivily principle does apply to Newton's laws of mechanics but
not to MaxwelI's laws of electromagnetism. This requires us to choose the comct
consequences from among the following possible allematives.

1. Retain the Reiatlvity 2. Retain the Relativity 3. Reti~in'the Relativity

Principle for mechnnics Principle for both Pri~iciplefor both
but not for electrodynam- mechnhics and mechanics and
ics. electrodynamics but hold electrodynamics;~buthold
the laws of that the Newtonlan
'his would mean hat electromagnetism as not nlecllnnics is nut correct.
Newton's mechanics correct.
remains unchanged. But the If this alternative were
laws of electromagnetism If this alternativc were correct then we should be
hold only in one privileged correct, we should be able able to do experiments
kame of reference, that is to do experiments that which show deviations
the ether frame. Tf this alter- show deviations from the from Newtonian
native were correct we electromagnetic theory. mechanics. Then we would
should be able to locate the Thcn we would need to need to reformulate
ether hame reformulate the laws of Newtons's Laws. We would
experimentally. electromagnetism so that also have to give up the
the Galilean Galilean transformation
transformations apply to because they do not give us
the new Laws. . an invariant form of
Maxwell's quations.We
shall need to look forsome
other transformation which
is consistent with classical
electromagnetism and the
new laws of mechmics.

Several investigations were c&ed out to decide which of the three alternatives was
correct. Their net outcome was to provide an experimental basis for .rejecting the
alternatives 1 and 2. ?Jhe most famous of these experiments is the one perfornied by
Michclson and Morley in 1887 to locate the absolute frame. You have studied this
experiment in Unit 7, Block 2 of the course PHE-09 on optics. However, let us briefly
study thiskc-elebrated historic experiment
12
 Emergence of Specid
Relntlvlty
1.3.3 Attempts to Locate the Absolute Frame -The MiChelson-
Motley Experiment
Let us first understand what was being investigated through this experiment. Consider a
simple example. When we say that sound travels at 340 m s-', we are refemng to the
s ~ of dsound with respect to air through which it propagates. If we move through still
air towards an oncoming sound wave at a speed of 30 rn s-' (relative to the air), we
observe the speed of sound to be 310 m s-'. Clearly, the speed of sound relative to us
varies with our speed relative to air.
Now the elher hypothesis suggests that the earth is moving in the ether medium as it
orbits the sun. Therefore. in analogy to the example above. we can say that the speed of
light relative to an obsenser on the earth varies with the earth's speed relative to the ether.
The speed at which the earth orbiLs the sun is 30 km s-', about 0.01% (I@) of the speed
of light. This is the maximum change which we can observe in the speed of light on earth
as it moves through ether. Michelson, in 1881, and then in collaboration with Morley, in
1887, performed an experiment designed to detect such a change in the speed of light.
The essential principle of the experiment was to send a light-signal ftom a source to a
mirror and back, noting the total time taken. The experiment was to be done twice:
(i) in the direction of earth's motiot in ether, and
(ii) at right-angles to it.

Fig.l.3: (a) Schematic rcprescntation of Mlchelson. Morlcy experiment; (b) the apparalus

In the cxpcriment a beam of light from a source S(fixed with respect to the apparatus) is
scparatcd into two coherent beams by a partially silvered mirror M inclincd at 45' to the
beam direction (Fig. 1:3a). Two mirrors M, and M2 are placed at nearly q u a 1 distances
from M and at right angles to each other. These reflect the beams back to M. A part of
each of the two beams reflected by M , and M,,respectively, are reunited a1 M and lhc
recombined beams are observed through a telescope T. A glass plate G is placed betwecn
M and M2 to compensate for the extra distance travelled by light through M to M,. Now if
you have studied Block 2 of thc course PHE-09, you would realise that when the two
parts of the split beam recombine, they will interfere. Now suppose the time taken for
light to travel from M to M ,and back is I and lhe time required to travel from M to M,
and back is t'. Then the interference will be constructive at a given point if at that point
the difference
r- r' =nT, n = l , 2 , 3,.... (1.8~1)
and destructive if
 where T is the time period of the light wave. So the existence of a time difference
between the two paths travelled by light influences the illumination of a given point (say
A) viewed through the telescope. It is either bright (conshuctive interference) or dark
(destructive interference). If M, and M, are very nearly at right angles, the fringe pauern
consists of nearly parallel lines.
Now, suppose we rotated the entire apparatus by 90" in the plane of M, M I and M2.Then
the orientation of MM,and MM2relative to the direction of Earth's motion through ether
would change. Such a rotation would alter the time taken along each path and lhus change
the illumination of the point A. Or we could say that the hinge pattern would shift. It
was this changi in illumination of a given point (or a shift the fringe pattern), as a
result of rotation, that Michelson actually tried to detect. The expected shift was of the
order of four-tenths of a fringe.
Michelson and Morley took utmost care in eliminating ail possible sources of error, such
as stresses and temperature effects. And this shift should have been clcarly observable.
Nevertheless,
no kinge shift was observed.
Jf you with to go into the One could say that at the time when the experiment was being done, the earth was at rest
historical &tails you may rred relative to the ether, However, the result did not change when it was repeated after a gap
the first book listed ns fullher of six monlhs. Indeed, this experiment was repeated many times by many workers over a
readinp.
50-year period, in more sbphisticated ways, at different times of the year. nut the result
was always the same. As far as Michelson was concerned, its implication was clear as he
wrote at that time
'The result of the hypothesis of a stationary ether is shown to be incorrect.'
Needless to say, the ether hypolhesis was not given up immediately. Several interpretations
of h e null result of this experiment to preserve thc conccpt of ether were suggested, We
will not go into the details of all these interpretations bccaus'c, with time,(as evidence
accumulated) it turned out that these were either inconsistent with observations and
experiment or lacked sound conceptual bases.
Various expcrirnonts perfomcd to measure the speed of light over the years have
Einstein was motivated by both confirmed this result. Indeed, theaspeed of light in free space has been found to be
Ihc problem of the uhw u a constant at all times. It is independent of the place where measurements were canied out,
preferred referenas frame mrl hir It does not depend on its frequency, nature and motion .of its source. direction of its
thoughts on Maxwell':
alac~rcdynuniosmd. in puticular, propagation. It is also constant with respect to all inertial frames of reference. Thus,
on R n d a y ' ' ~law of induction. experiments help us to accept, indisputably, the following principle.
Recall from-Unit 13 of PHE-07
that Fanday'# law of The speed of light in free space is a universal constant.
elearomagnetic induction mferr IO
the relative motion of a win loop This result obviously conbadicts the Galilean principle of relativity. At the same time the
and a magnu. 'Ihat motion
together with the magnaio field of laws of electromagnetism are upheld by experiment. Moreover in certain other
the magnet rcsulb in a c u m 1 experiments performed in the early twentieth century departures from Newtonian
flowing in the loop. The detailed mechanics were observed. In 1902, the motion of electrons (emitted by radioactive
explanation of this effect aa given sources) in electric and magnetic fields was investigated experimentally. It was found that
at that time was not symmetricaf,
It was not the same when looked Newton's second law did not correctly describe the motion of these electrons which
at From Ihe refcnnw fremc of the moved with velocities close to that of light. To sum up, we have found that the classical
magnet and from the reference principle of relativity is incompatible with the laws of electromagnetism.
frrme of Lc loop. 'Ei~tstrinfclt Michelson-Morley experiment fails to detect ether (i.e., an absolute frame of reference).
that thin phenomenon should bs
cxrctly syn~rnotricalsince only Tlrus, the ether hypothesis is untenable. It is experimentally established that the speed of .
rclat;va nlotion Is involved. He light, in free space, is a constant.
rcrolved both h c w pmblcms by a
fiat: by poslulating tho principle of What is more, experiments done on electrons moving at speeds close to that of light in
rdativity he insisted that all laws
bc valid for dl inertial obscwcrs.
electric and magnetic fields show a breakdown of Newton's laws of motion. Hence we can
lkc second postulate slshd whar see that a relativity principle. applicable to both mechanics and to electromagnetism, is
he hclicved nature was trying 10 operating. Clearly it is n d ,the Galilean principle, since that requires the speed of light to
tcll us all slong, The conarwcy of depend on the frame of reference in which it is measured. We conclude that the Galilean
thc s p e d of light was for him not Vansformations should be replaced. Hence, the laws of mechanics, which are consistent
somefiing that nceded to be
explained. It was a new law of with these msformations, need to be modified.
nature that had to he accepcd.
The disc"ussion so far givqs you an idea of the background in which Einstein's special
theory of relativity emerged. Let us now study Lhc spccial theory of relativity.
-
1.4 THE SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY
You have studied in the previous section that the constancy of the speed of light in all
inertial frames stands in contradiction with the Galilean transformations. In 1905, Albert
Einstein (1879-1955) presented a revolutionary proposal which resolved this contradiction.
Rather than modifying electromagnetic theory, he rejected the ether hypothesis and
generalised Galilean principle of relativity. In his paper "On the Electrodynamics of
Moving Bodies", Einstein formulated the nvo postulates of the special theory of relati-rity,
which we rephrase here:

Postulates of the Special Theory of Relativity

Postulate 1 - The Principle of Relativity

The laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames of reference.
Postulate 2 - The Principle of Constancy of Speed of Light
The speed of light (in vacuum) has the same constant value in all inertial reference
frames.

These two assumptipns led Einstein to a new theory of physics which is now known as
the special theory of relativity. It is special because it only deals with observations made
in inertial frames. For example, it does not say anything about the relationship between
two frames undergoing relative acceleration. Non-inertial frames are the subject rnattcr of
another of Einstein's theories - the general theory af relativity. ,,

Let us now understand the meaning of these postulates.

l.4.1 The Principle of Relativity

You have briefly studied the Galilean principle of relativity which applied to the
Newtonian laws of mechanics. This limited principle has now b a n generalised to all laws
of physics- any law of physics that is true in one inertial frame will also be true in
all other inertial frames. Let us consider an example to understand this statement.
Suppose a positive electric charge q was fixed at a point (X, 0,0) in a stationary inertial Fig. 1.4: A positive charge q i s fixed
frame S (Eig.l.4). If another positive charge q' was rcleascd at some point on the x-axis. atr=X.y=O,r=OinframeS.
it would acceleraie away from the fixed charge at x = X. We could experimentally Another positively charged particle
q' wleamd from r poin~on the
determine the x component of the acceleration of the moving charge as a function of its x-axis srperionce: M rccelaradon
distance from the fixed charge. The relationship would be of the following form: awry from l a charge.

For a charged particle movingaway from a fixed charge

.where k is a constant
Now suppose that another observer is stationed in an inertial' frame of reference S' moving Incidcnlally, udng lhis principle
Einstein discovered that m y of
with respect to S with a constant velocity u:The principle of relativity tells us that if the equations which were thought lo
Eq. (1.9a) is really a law of physics, then the observer in the S' frame should find that be 'laws of physics' in hia day
could not be laws at dl, evtn
though thay r g d with all existi*
expcrimenu. He propaaed
rndifications or rltemarives to
-
many of these 'laws' dtem~ivcs
where X' is the location of the fixed charge q on the x/-axis of the S' frame. Thus,even that could bc written.in the same
though the values of i ,t', X' and the constant k' are different from x, t, X , and k, the form in all i~iertiplframes, in
accordancs with tha principle of
relationship between them is of the same form as Eq.(1.9a). Convemty, we can also say relativity. Exparimata done later
that any equation that cannot be written in the same form in all inertial Frames cannot be a have shorn thu h e old 'laws'
law of physics. So the principle of relativity also allows us to determine which though adequate in their dwn h e .
relationships (or equations) can or cannot be laws of physics, & not &rcribe the results that am
nOW ~ i l a b l a

In summary, the principle of relativity implies that the laws of nature do not depend upon
the choice' of an inertial frame of reference or the position or motion of an observer - they
 The Special Theory will always retain their form in any inertial frame of reference. Indeed, the measurements
of RelaUvlty of various quantities, like the positions, times, velocities, energies, momenta, electric and
magnetic fields may be different in different inertial frames. However, the relationships
between these quantities governed by various laws would remain the same in all inertia1
frames.
In philosophical terms, we can say that the principle of relativity underscores the objective
character of the laws of nature and not the relativity of knowledge.
The principle of relativity is also stated in the following form which you will often
encounter: The laws of physics do not allow us to distinguish between different inertial
frames.
In other words, you will not be able to distinguish through any experiment whether
you are at rest omin a state of uniform motion. For, if there were such an experiment, it
would mean that the laws of physics depended in some way on your velocity and were
different from the laws of physics when you were at rest.
You should understand that the principle of relativity does not claim that all inertial
frames are the same in all respects To appreciate this point, consider two different
spacecrafts, each travelling with a different constant velocity with respect to's. The
principle of relativity tells us that the two frames cannot be distinguished as far as the
laws of physics are concerned. However, if one could look outside each spacecraft through
a window, it would be easy to know that they are moving at different velmitics, relative to
S. Does this contradict the principle of relativity? No, because the velocity of the
spacecraft relative to S is not determined by a law of physics. Besides, in formulating this
form of the principle of relativity the essential condition was that the spacecrafts were
completely isolated.
The id& presented here are worth careful thought and you may' need to go through them
more than once. You may now like to attempt the following SAQ to know whether you
have grasped the principle of relativity or not.

SAQ 4
(a) Suppose the observer in S'frame finds that Eq.(l.Ob) is supported by experiment. Does
it automatically follow that Eq. (1.9b) is a law of physics?
(b) Suppose you observe the motion of a particle in an.inertia1frame. You find that the
x-component of the acceleration of the particle is described by the following equation:

where k, and k, are constants and (X, Y, Z)are the coordinates of a second particle in your
frame. If his equation is to be regarded as a possible law in physics, what relationship
must an obscrvcr in a different inertial Erame find to be experimentally valid?

Let us now study the second postulate of the special theory of relativity.

We hava cho=n to hiblight this 1.4.2 The Principle of Constancy of Speed of Light
arpr.1 because of ib hirtodul
sianificmrr. Whsn raked how long The second postulate about the constancy of speed of light is crucial in leading to the
he had On Iha S@J. theory of ~lativity.It is very important because it radically alters the classical notions of
%OF/, Einstein mplicd that ha had
r,,dat age 16 mdwaafor absolute space and time. Here we shall briefly discuss the implications of the second
y-. ~a hrd lo ,hndm m l y -postulatebf special relativity theory, particularly regaiding the notion of time.
fniltlar uwlplr 'until at Ian it
c a m to him rhutime war :uspea'
- in prtimlar, *e a~sump~ion thu The Nature of Time in Special Relativity
rhcre ~ x i r t aI univcnd time which The basic pkemise.of New>mian mechanics was that the same time scale applied lo all
is Ihc In r*im inertial fnunes of reference (recall the equation r' = t in Galilean transformation). Using
bn'dly viudy t N a alpcet
this universal time scaled we must be able to give ,meaning to statementi such as "Events
A and B occurred at the same timen, without refening to any inertial h e of refetence.
To use the exarnple'given by Einstein, when we say that a train arrives at 7 o'clock, what
we mean is this: The pointing of the clock hand to 7 and the arrival of the train are
simultaneous events.
Thus, the assigning of time to events involves judging whether they are simultaneous or Emergence of Speclal
Rele tlvlty
not. So, if all observers, independent of their position and velocity, a@ that my two
events (e.g., the anival of the train at the station and the pohting of the clock hand to 7)
are simultaneous, we could certainly say that the absolute, Newwnian time scale existed.
We shall certainly not have an absolute time scale if different inertial observers d i s a p e
about two events being simultaneous, i.e., one inertial observer says that two events occur
at the same time and another inertial observer says that ttlcy do not. This is precisely what
happens if we uphold the constancy of the speed of iight. Let us understand this idea with
the help of an imaginary experiment.
Consider a train compartment travelling at a very high constant velocity V to the right of
an observer S at rest on rhe earth (Fig. 1.5). A highspcerl flashbulb is situated at the exact
centre of the compartment. It sends out light pulses to the right and lef~when i t flashes.
There are photocells at each end of the compartment, so h a t w observer Sf, in the
comparunent can detect whcn Lhe light pulses suike its ends. Now, suppose by some
ingenious device, the observer S on the earth is also able to niaisure the progress of the
two pulses. Let the positions of S and S' coincide with that of the bulb whcn it flashes
(Fig. 1.5a).
The Ilashbulb is at rest relative lo the observer S' in the compartment. Since it is at h e
centre, whcn the bulb flashes, two light pulses travel equal diswnces to the ~ w oends of
the comparunenl in equal times. Hence, Sa obscrves that thc: light pulses hit the two ends
of the cornpartmcnt at the same time.
Is the same conclusiorl drawn by S, who is st?tionary on the mlzh'? Refer to Figs. 1.5b and
1.5~.The light pulses travel eyual ciistances 'to the rigl~t,andlert in cqual time, Rut in the
frame of S the compartment is movirlg lo the right. So in h e frame of S, d ~ dislancc
e

FQ.1.5: Unllke the Inertlal~bscrverf In the movlng Ira10 compartment, lhc stationary ,
observer S on the earth observes that the llght p~rlsado llot strike the ends
of the car slmultan~ously,The flgurcs are dram wlth respect to the hertlal
observcr S.
 W e e n the point at which S observes the bulb flashing and ?heleft end of the
compartment is shorter compared to its distance from the right end. As a result, S
measures that the light pulse moving to the left strikes the end of the compartment b e f m
the other pulse strikes the apposite end. In the frame of reference of S, the light pulses do
not hit the two ends of the compartment at the same time.
Now, if Newtonian mechanics were valid, this difference in the distance travelled in the
frame of S would be compensated by the different speeds of light me&ured by S.The,
observer S would assign a lower speed (c - V) to the pulse travelling to the left (opposite to
the direction of the train's motion); the pulse travelling to the right would travel a greater
distance but at a greater speed of (c + V). Thus, S would measure both the times to be equal
and conclude that the two pulses hit the ends of the compartment at the same time,
But the speed of light is constiint. Therdfore, in the frame of S, the two events (he light,
pulses hitting the two ends of the compartment) do not occur simultaneously.
This signifies a major break with the older ideas of absolute time, because diflcrent
observers do not agree on what is the same time. Of course, remember that this result is
arrived at for events occurring at different locations (the two ends of the compartment for
instance). In the next unit we shall come back to this discussion and also consider events
occurring simultaneously at the same point in space.
To sum up, we can conclude that the notion of absolute time is contradicted by rhe second
postulate because
Events (occurring atdifferent points in space) that are simultaneous in one inertid
system may not be simultaneous in another.
This conclusion is termed the relativity of simultaneity, It is the fundamental difference
between Newtonian relativity and special relativity. In Newtonian relativity, observers in S
and S' always agree everywhere about events occurring nt the same time. This is also the
origin.of other features of space and time that follow from the special thcory of relativity,
namely, the phenomena of length contraction, time dilatii~i,twin paradox, etc. In this brief
discussion we have given you a flavour of what follows in the next unit. We end this
section with an SAQ for you.

SAQ 5
10 min a) The spezd of light is 3.0 x 10' m s-'. You travel lowards a light source in a spaceshiput
a constant speed of 2.0 x 10" m s'' (both speeds are measured with rcspect lo m inertial
frame at rest), What is the spccd of light relativc to you?
b) One observer moves toward a star at a speed V , another moves away from it at the same
speed. Considering the speeds, frequency n and wavclength h of the star light (c = nh),
I
what do the observers measure to be the same and what do they mcasure to be dirfewnl?
c) Suppose the compartment of the train in Fig. I .5 would shrink so that the distance
between its two ends approaches zero. Can you give a si~nplcargurncnt to sllow lhat two
events not separated in space are simultaneous for all inertial observers?

Let us now summarise ,what you have studied in this unit.

1.5 SUMMARY
a An event is an occurrence that happens at a point in space and at an instant in time. The
Galilean coordinate transformations from an inertial frame of reference S to another
,
inertial Erame S' moving at a vdlocity u = u? relative to S are given by

t' = t

Here (x, y, z) are the coordinates of an event and t is the time at which it occurs, as
18
 Emergence of Specld
measured in the frame S. The coordinates (x', y', 2') and the time t' are'measore8 in S'. Relatlvl ty
S' rnoves wieh respect to S so that lhc x-x' axes x e common and the y-y', z-z' axes are
parallel.
e The Galilean or classical principle of relativity slates that the laws of mechanics can
be written in the same form in all inertial frames of refersnce. If they hold in one inertial
frame, they also hold in all oher inertial frames.
e Galilean coordinate transformations predict that the vclocity of light should be
different in different inenial frames and do rrot prcscrve Ihe form of Maxwell's
equations. Thus, the Galilean ~incipleof relativity does not apply to the laws of
electromagnctism.

e Experiments, especially the M ichelson-Morley experiment, indicate that he speed of

light is a universal constanl and is indeperident of the relative uniform motion of the
observer, Ihc trunsmiuing medium, and the source. Ihe laws of electromagnetism are
also upheld by experiments. Newtoniun nla:har~icsis experimentally observed to break
down for particles moving at speeds close to that of light.
e In his special theory of relativity Eins~inafru Ins thc classical principle of telativity
and generilises it to include all laws of physics. This also means that the speed of light
should bc the same in all ur~ifornilymovirlg syslcrlls.
e The postulates of special reliitivity arc as Ibllows:
Pt~tulate1 - The Principle of Relativity
The laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames of reference.
Postulate 2 - l'he Principle of Constarley of Speed of Light
The speed of light (in vacuum) has the same constant value in all inertial
frames of reference.

1.6 TERMINAL QUESTIONS Spend 30 min

1. Linear inomenrum and kinetic energy are conserved in an elastic collision. Use the
Galilean transformation equations to show hat if a collision is elastic in one inertial
frame it is elastic in all inertial frames.
2. a) . Does the Michelson-Morley experiment indicate that ether is an unnecessary
concept, ordoes it prove that there is no such thing?

b) 0nc of Maxwell's equations is 8%

fc E. d l = - ;j;in an inertial frame S.
According to the principle of relativity, what will its form be in another inertial
frame S'?
3. How is the nature of time as enunciated in classical relativity different from that in the
special theory of relativity?

1.7 SOLUTIONS AND ANSWERS

SAQs (Self-Assessment Questions)
1. a) Non-inertial since the car is accelerating
b) Inertial
c) Non-inertial since the electron is accelerating
d) Inertial
e) Inertial
2. a) No. Different inertial observers can measure different values of physical quantities
but the relationship between them remains the wne,
b) yes, since these laws follow from Newtonian mechanics,
The Special l'6eory '
3. Using Lhe chain rule we get
vf Relativity

From Galilean transformations given by Eq. (1.1)

we have

Thus, = *and-a2+ -
a2+
ax. a2 - 2 '
ax

a2+ = -
You can also show that, - a2+ =-
a2+ and - a29
ay2 az2 azr2
ay12

Now
3 -- a4 ax a+ a i a4 azt a+ att
1
+ + +

a( a x t a r a y l a t a z l a ( a t t a t .
From Qs. (1.1) -ax- - - u, L o , - -azl =o,-at* = 1
1

at at at at

Thus @ =-u
at
& +%
ax1 at'

and a2+ = u2- a2$

- -2u7+- a2+ a2+
a8 axt2 ax at ~ ~ $ 2

Thus there are two extra terms in the expression of a2 + / a ? in the S' frame. Hence the
wave equation does not retain its form in the S' frame.
4. a) No, the Eq. (1.9b) has to satisfy the principle of relativity as well, i.e., it has to >old
in all inertial frames.
b) The relationship in another inertial frame S' should be of the form

-
' =
ap2
,ax. + ,;
-
at1
[(i- + (V'
,q2 Y + )+~ (z' - 2721
where V1and K2 are constants, (X', Y', 2') are the coordinates of the second particle in
S' frame, and (x', y', z', t') are the space-time coordinates of the particle in S' frame.

5. a) It is 3.0 x 10% s-' since it is a universal constant.

b) The speed of light is measured to be the same, its frequency and wavelength are
measured to be different by the two observers.
c) The loss of simultaneity in S is due to the finite length of the compartment, which
makes the observer S measure the distance to the left to be smaller. If the
compartment's length shrunk to zero, the two pulses would strike its ends
simultaneously for all inertial frames. Thus, two events occurring at the same
position would occur at the same time for all inertial observers.
Terminal Questions
1. Let an object of mass m and velocity vl collide elastically with an object of mass M and
velocity V1in frame S. Let their velocities after collision be vz and V2,respectively in S.
Then since linear momentum and kinetic energies are conserved in an elastic collision,
we have
mv, + MV, = mv, + MV2 (A)
1 1 1 1
and -2r n v : - b L ~ q = 2 m ~+lM$ 03,)
Now let S' frwne move with a velocity v with respect to S. Then the Galilean velocity
transformation gives us h e velocities of m arid M before and after collision as
V ~ ~ = Y ~ - " , V= ~v '1'- v , v ~ = v 2 - V , v ;= V z - V , . (C)
1

-
I
Substituting for v,, V,, v,, V, from (C) in (A) and (B) wc get
m(v; + v) + M(V; + v) = m(v; + v) + M& + v)
or mv; + MV; = m< + M V ~ @)
Thus linear momentum is conserved in the S' frame. For the conservation of kinetic
energy, we proceed as follows:
rn lv; + v12 + M I V+~v12 = rnlv; + v12 + M I V ~v12+

Using (D) we get

h 2 ] 12,
or l2( m v l + M < ) = (my
l +M#,)

Thus, K.E. is conserved in St.

2. a) The Michelson-Morley experiment indicates only that the concept of ether is
unnecessary.
b) The form in frame S' will be

3: In classical relativity observers in different inertial frames will always agree about the
time at which an event occurs. If two events occur simultaneously for one inertial
observer, [hen according to classical relativity, these two events will be simultaneous for
all other inertial observers. This need not be so according to special theory of relativity.
Thus, in specialkelativity two inertial observers need not measure the time at which an
event occurs Lo be the same, if the events occur at different positions in space.