Einstein Light: Galilean Relativity and Newtonian Mechanics

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written by Joe Wolfe and George Hatsidimitris

This animated tutorial, part of the Einstein Light website, presents the concept of relativity from a situation inspired by Galileo (an inertial reference frame). It shows the motion of a ball being dropped from two reference frames: on a moving train and on a stationary platform. How does the motion appear different to the observer on the platform and the observer on the train?

The Einstein Light project is a qualitative introduction to relativity, developed for novice learners and built around the framework of Flash media files with narration, video, and animation. It explores concepts ranging from Galilean relativity through Einstein and quantum mechanics.

Please note that this resource requires Flash.

Editor's Note: Interesting sidebar: When Galileo was interrogated by church authorities to prove the truth behind his revolutionary ideas, he spent one entire day presenting findings from his experiments on relative motion. He used rocks dropped on ships (not balls on trains) for his experimentation. To explore Galileo's life and contributions, See Related Materials: "Galileo's Battle for the Heavens".

http://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/einsteinlight/jw/module1_Galileo_and_...

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Classical Mechanics - Applications of Newton's Laws - Relative Motion Relativity - Galilean Relativity - Reference Frames = Inertial	- High School - Middle School - Lower Undergraduate - Informal Education	- Instructional Material = Tutorial - Reference Material - Audio/Visual = Movie/Animation

Appropriate Courses	Categories	Ratings
- Physics First - Conceptual Physics - Algebra-based Physics - AP Physics	- Activity - New teachers	Currently 5.0/5 Rated 5.0 stars by 1 person Want to rate this material? Login here!

Intended User:: Learner
Formats:: text/html
application/flash
image/gif
Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2005 School of Physics, University of New South Wales, Australia
Keywords:: Galileo, Newton, acceleration, force, mass, natural state, relative motion
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created December 12, 2007 by Christopher Bares
Record Updated:: August 16, 2016 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: February 12, 2007
Other Collections:: The Physics To Go

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AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

4. The Physical Setting

4F. Motion

9-12: 4F/H2. All motion is relative to whatever frame of reference is chosen, for there is no motionless frame from which to judge all motion.

10. Historical Perspectives

10A. Displacing the Earth from the Center of the Universe

9-12: 10A/H6. Writing in Italian rather than in Latin (the language of scholars at the time), Galileo presented arguments for and against the two main views of the universe in a way that favored the newer view. His descriptions of how things move provided an explanation for why people might notice the motion of the earth. Galileo's writings made educated people of the time aware of these competing views and created political, religious, and scientific controversy.

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=6262">Wolfe, Joe, and George Hatsidimitris. Einstein Light: Galilean Relativity and Newtonian Mechanics. February 12, 2007.</a>

AIP Format

J. Wolfe and G. Hatsidimitris, (2005), WWW Document, (http://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/einsteinlight/jw/module1_Galileo_and_Newton.htm).

AJP/PRST-PER

J. Wolfe and G. Hatsidimitris, Einstein Light: Galilean Relativity and Newtonian Mechanics (2005), <http://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/einsteinlight/jw/module1_Galileo_and_Newton.htm>.

APA Format

Wolfe, J., & Hatsidimitris, G. (2007, February 12). Einstein Light: Galilean Relativity and Newtonian Mechanics. Retrieved October 6, 2024, from http://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/einsteinlight/jw/module1_Galileo_and_Newton.htm

Chicago Format

Wolfe, Joe, and George Hatsidimitris. Einstein Light: Galilean Relativity and Newtonian Mechanics. February 12, 2007. http://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/einsteinlight/jw/module1_Galileo_and_Newton.htm (accessed 6 October 2024).

MLA Format

Wolfe, Joe, and George Hatsidimitris. Einstein Light: Galilean Relativity and Newtonian Mechanics. 2005. 12 Feb. 2007. 6 Oct. 2024 <http://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/einsteinlight/jw/module1_Galileo_and_Newton.htm>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Author = "Joe Wolfe and George Hatsidimitris", Title = {Einstein Light: Galilean Relativity and Newtonian Mechanics}, Volume = {2024}, Number = {6 October 2024}, Month = {February 12, 2007}, Year = {2005} }

Refer Export Format

%A Joe Wolfe %A George Hatsidimitris %T Einstein Light: Galilean Relativity and Newtonian Mechanics %D February 12, 2007 %U http://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/einsteinlight/jw/module1_Galileo_and_Newton.htm %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A Wolfe, Joe %A Hatsidimitris, George %D February 12, 2007 %T Einstein Light: Galilean Relativity and Newtonian Mechanics %V 2024 %N 6 October 2024 %8 February 12, 2007 %9 text/html %U http://newt.phys.unsw.edu.au/einsteinlight/jw/module1_Galileo_and_Newton.htm

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The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

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Einstein Light: Galilean Relativity and Newtonian Mechanics:

Is Supplemented By NOVA: Galileo's Battle for the Heavens

A two-hour NOVA program that explores the story of Galileo and his struggle to gain acceptance of his revolutionary discoveries. Presented as a drama starring Simon Callow in reenactments of key moments in Galileo's life.

relation by Caroline Hall

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