Summary
Einstein produced 5 original papers in 1905 – each truly exceptional.
One was the theory of special relativity
- The speed of light is the same in all directions to all observers
This led to fundamental changes in our notions of space and time
- Require that theory must agree with direct observations
- Give up idea that time is the same at different places (not a direct observation, as was assumed in classical physics)
- Time is neither absolute, nor is it invented by human minds
- Additional Conclusions:
- Length of moving objects shrink along direction of motion
- Nothing can travel faster than the speed of light -- the one and only “ Universal speed limit”