General Relativity 101:

Introduction
From Galileo to Einstein

(Check Description for Errors)

 𝑑 sin ( 𝑥 )
¿ cos ( 𝑥 )
𝑑𝑥

Basic Calculus
Black Holes
Expansion of
[ 1
5
3
−2 ][ ]1
2 the universe
Basic Linear Algebra

⃗ ⃗
𝐹 =𝑚 𝑎 Gravitational
Time Dilation Gravitational
Basic Physics Waves
 several hours long…

Relativity Relativity 102 Relativity 103 Relativity 104 Relativ

101

self-contained
introduction!
(Without too much math!)
Relativity
101
How did Relativity come about?

Galileo Galilei Albert Einstein

Galilean Relativity Special Relativity General Relativity
(1632) (1905) (1915)

Relativity at speeds close

to the speed of light A new theory of gravity.
Relativity at (Gravity = spacetime curvature)
2
everyday speeds 𝐸=𝑚 𝑐
What is Relativity?
How the laws of motion work in different reference frames

⃗ ⃗
𝐹 =𝑚 𝑎
What is Relativity?
How the laws of motion work in different reference frames

Galilean Principle of Relativity:

The laws of motion are the same in
all inertial reference frames

“not accelerating”
What is Relativity?
How the laws of motion work in different reference frames
What is Relativity?
How the laws of motion work in different reference frames
Frame of the scientist (on the ground)
Frame of the scientist (on the ground)
Frame of the car
Frame of the car
Frame of the car
Frame of the plane
Scientist and driver disagree
on the motion of the ball!
• velocity
• momentum Do they agree
• kinetic energy on anything?
Scientist and driver agree on…
• time
• size/space ⃗ ⃗
𝐹 =𝑚 𝑎
• mass
• Laws of Motion!
Frame of the scientist (on the ground)
Frame of the car
Frame of the plane
 Inertial Frames
Galilean Principle of Relativity:
The laws of motion are the same in all inertial reference frames
• There is no experiment you can do to determine
if your reference frame is stationary, or moving at
constant speed
• There is no “special” reference frame truly stationary
Galilean Principle of Relativity
Laws of motion are the same in all inertial reference frames

Things we disagree on: Things we agree on:

An object’s motion Laws of motion

⃗ ⃗
𝐹 =𝑚 𝑎
Galilean Principle of Relativity
Laws of motion are the same in all inertial reference frames

Things we disagree on: Things we agree on:

An object’s motion Laws of motion

⃗ ⃗
𝐹 =𝑚 𝑎
Galilean Principle of Relativity
Laws of motion are the same in all inertial reference frames

Things we disagree on: Things we agree on:

velocity
Laws of motion
momentum ⃗ ⃗
𝐹 =𝑚 𝑎
kinetic energy
Galilean Principle of Relativity
Laws of motion are the same in all inertial reference frames

Things we disagree on: Things we agree on:

velocity time space/size
mass
momentum
Laws of motion
kinetic energy
⃗ ⃗
𝐹 =𝑚 𝑎
Examples of accelerating frames (non-inertial frame):
Elevator accelerates Car accelerates forward…
upward…

… passenger feels pulled backward

Car turns a corner…
(accelerates inward)

… passenger feels … passenger feels

pulled downward. pulled outward
A passenger in an accelerating box…
…will feel a fictitious force pulling on them.

A passenger in an accelerating reference frame…

…will have different laws of motion!
⃗ ⃗ +⃗
𝐹 =𝑚 𝑎 𝐹
Newton’s 2nd Law for
𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 accelerating reference frame.
stationary acceleration
stationary acceleration
 stationary acceleration

Non-inertial Frames
(Galilean relativity
stationary/constant speed does not apply) acceleration
Galilean Principle of Relativity
Laws of motion are the same in all inertial reference frames

Things we disagree on: Things we agree on:

velocity time space/size
mass
momentum
Laws of motion
kinetic energy
⃗
𝐹 =𝑚 𝑎⃗
Galilean Relativity Special Relativity General Relativity
(1632) (1905) (1915)

Physics at speeds close

to the speed of light A new theory of gravity.
Physics at (Gravity = spacetime curvature)
2
everyday speeds 𝐸=𝑚 𝑐