Current And Emerging Understanding About Time And Space

Current and emerging understanding about time and space has been dependent upon earlier models of the transmission of light

Students learn to:

• outline the features of the aether model for the transmission of light
• describe and evaluate the Michelson- Morley attempt to measure the relative velocity of the Earth through the aether
• discuss the role of the Michelson-Morley experiments in making determinations about competing theories
• outline the nature of inertial frames of reference
• discuss the principle of relativity
• describe the significance of Einstein’s assumption of the constancy of the speed of light
• identify that if c is constant then space and time become relative
• discuss the concept that length standards are defined in terms of time in contrast to the original metre standard
• explain qualitatively and quantitatively the consequence of special relativity in relation to:
  • the relativity of simultaneity
  • the equivalence between mass and energy
  • length contraction
  • time dilation
  • mass dilation
• discuss the implications of mass increase, time dilation and length contraction for space travel

Students:

• gather and process information to interpret the results of the Michelson-Morley experiment
• perform an investigation to help distinguish between non-inertial and inertial frames of reference
• analyse and interpret some of Einstein’s thought experiments involving mirrors and trains and discuss the relationship between thought and reality
• analyse information to discuss  the relationship between theory and the evidence supporting it, using Einstein’s predictions based on relativity that were made many years before evidence was available to support it
• solve problems and analyse information using: