However, time dilation and Lorentz contraction, both key features of special relativity, are too small to be measurable at regular speeds. Yet the ether turned out to be nonexistent, and the speed of light was identified as identical in all directions, a heavy blow for classical physics and strong support for special relativity. It was an attempt to detect the existence of the luminiferous ether. Historically, a key motivation for the development of special relativity was the outcome of the Michelson-Morley experiment (Michelson and Morley 1887 see also, e.g., Eisele et al. Consequences of this new concept include the revision of the addition theorem for velocities and the acceptance of the relativity of simultaneity.īoth special relativity and general relativity are integral parts of modern-day physics. Most notably, special relativity employs a fundamentally new concept, space-time.

Special relativity is relevant at speeds that are non-negligible compared to the speed of light in that respect, the special relativity is a significant generalization of the previous work by Isaac Newton and others. This profoundly important piece of work was later augmented through the introduction of the general relativity theory. The early breakthrough giving rise to his multi-decade plethora of outstanding contributions is his assembly of the special relativity theory. IntroductionĪlbert Einstein is widely considered one of the greatest scientists of all time. Their refusal to accept Einstein’s work has been well documented, including in the book Hundred Authors against Einstein. Einstein’s work is considered one of the pillars of modern physics, but some scientists rejected Einstein’s work for decades. A highlight of Albert Einstein’s work was the theory of special relativity, which greatly modified the classical mechanics of Isaac Newton.

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