The transcendent and brilliant theory of special relativity

Ryan Modafe

October 27, 2023

The world has a unique level of order present which mathematicians and physicists alike have been searching to find for as long as modern humanity has existed. The search for fulfillment and understanding of everything the way it has been miraculously created have driven a multi-millenium long hunt for what has now become the most famous equation of all sciences. However, E = mc2 pertains to so much more than just a set of symbols so elegant in their simplicity but represent the renowned theory of Special Relativity, an instrumental advancement in the search for a unification theory of the inner workings of the universe. 

The most significant discovery made under the theory of Special Relativity was the idea that light moves at a constant speed no matter the inertial reference frame under which it was being observed. This effectively provides a universal constant to speed upon which other ideas can be built on. With other objects that move at significantly slower speeds, relative velocity enters the scenario and the speed of an object can be a certain value for one observer but a different value for another observer. Such a concept can be exemplified through a man on a truck watching a train next to him moving. The velocity of the train to the man (relative velocity) may be 30 mph but if the truck is moving at 50 mph relative to the ground, then the train actually moves at 80 mph relative to the ground. 

Another imperative discovery made from the equation Einstein discovered came from the relationship between mass and energy. As seen in the proportionality between energy and mass, the mass of an object–the amount of matter it contains–is simply another form of stored energy. This outlines why reaching or even approaching the speed of light is inherently unfeasible. As an object moves faster and faster, it “gains” mass, and requires more and more energy to move (unnoticeable to humans at lower velocities). As a result, in order to have an object reach even a large fraction of the speed of light, an immense and almost infinite amount of energy would be required.

This groundbreaking theory paved the way for much of the later advancements in physics of the 20th century including the later generalized version of this theory known as “General Relativity” which still holds utility today. The sheer understanding of space the concept brought alone brought it into educational material all across the world and redefined the ideas for the future. The GPS system used on a daily basis to easily navigate would not have been made possible without the aid of the theory of Special Relativity which may also bring rise to new wondrous technologies to come.