SMILE

(SIMPLIFIED MODULE INTENDED FOR LEARNING ENCOUNTERS)

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Learner’s Packet
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Name: _________________________________________ Grade Level: ___________

Strand/ Section: _________________________________ Date: __________________

PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Q4_LP14

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR LEARNERS:

Before the theory of Special Relativity was introduced, scientists considered space
and time as completely independent objects. Time could not affect space and space could
not affect time. However, in 1905, Albert Einstein developed the Special Theory of Relativity.
His theory started a paradigm shift in understanding the nature of our universe including the
idea that time and space can be fused and must be considered as same object; which was
denoted as space-time.

There are also two main postulates of special relativity.

First Postulate:
It states that the law of Physics is the same in all inertial reference frames. Inertial
reference frame means that the object is at rest and remain at rest or moving body with a
constant velocity (no acceleration). This postulate implies that the same law governs the
object with same velocity and when the object is at rest.
Second Postulate:
This postulate states that the for all reference frame, the speed of light (c) is the same
no matter what their relative speed is. It tells us that the speed of light is always constant
taking into consideration that it is in a vacuum or empty space because it would be different
when light passes into different medium.
Special Relativity is only involved in situation where inertial frame of reference is not
accelerating.

The consequences of the postulate of special relativity are the following: relativity of
simultaneity, time dilation, length contraction mass-energy equivalence, and cosmic speed
limit.
LENGTH CONTRACTION
One aspect of the Einstein’s theory of relativity is that the length of objects moving at
relativistic speed undergoes a contraction along the dimension of motion. This implies that
the moving object would be shorter in length as observed by the observer at rest than that is
relative to the moving object.
Consider the picture of the two identical cars, Car A and Car B:

Car A Car B
https://images.app.goog.gl/93rDXMQrr9Guezeo6
 Car A is parked at a stop sign and car B is moving past at an appreciable fraction of
the speed of light. If you tried to measure the length of car B while passing at car A , it will
turn out that you will measure a smaller value car B compared to car A. This sample is
referred as length contraction. The amount of contraction of the object is dependent upon the
object’s speed relative to the observer. Car B will only be shorter in the direction it is
travelling; however, its height will not be affected.

In our daily lives, we never detect length contraction because we move at a speed
that are very small with respect to the speed of light. Remember that the length of contraction
is only significant when the object is moving in a relativistic speeds i.e.speeds which are a
significant fraction of the speed of light. Take note also that the contraction only occurs in
dimensions of the object’s motion. It means if the object is moving horizontally, then it is the
horizontal dimension which is contracted.

TIME DILATION

Time Dilation in theory of special relativity is the “slowing down” of a clock as

determined by an observer who is in relative motion with respect to that clock.

The “twin paradox” is a thought experiment that involve twins in explaining the special
relativity. One twin goes on a journey into space in a rocket that has a velocity near the
speed of light. In returning home, the twin found out that the twin that remained on Earth has
aged more. This consequence changes our perception that time is not necessarily constant.

https://images.app.goo.gl/qzu8T5xHM3Et6
The time-dilation effect predicted by special relativity has been accurately confirmed
by observations of the increased lifetime of unstable elementary particles traveling at nearly
the speed of light.

In his famous paper on special relativity, Albert Einstein deduced that when two
clocks are brought together and synchronized and then one was moved away and brought
back, the clock which undergone the traveling would be found lagging behind compared to
the clock which had stayed put. The “clock paradox” effect has been validated also by
experiments comparing the elapsed time of an atomic clock in Earth with that of the atomic
clock flown in an airplane.

RELATIVITY OF SIMULTANEITY

This concept of simultaneity is not absolute, but depends on the observer’s frame of
reference. It is impossible to say an absolute sense whether two distinct events occur at the
same time if those events are separated in space.
 https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q
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dQNDxbboVTpq&imgrefurl=https://www.texasgateway.org/resource/112-simultaneity-and-time-
dilation&h=563&w=544&tbnid=GKhW8Ns7wS5UTM&tbnh=228&tbnw=221&osm=1&hcb=1&source=l
ens-native&usg=AI4_-kSQYT4a8z68mBemmFRphsrsm7u0Sg&docid=XrdryKLwEIGHDM

Figure 1: Simultaneity

Let’s use the figure shown above to help us understand better the concept of
simultaneity. Suppose, we are to measure the time interval between two flashes of light
produced by flash lights (See Figure 1) Two flash lamps with observer A midway between
them are on the rail car that moves to the right relative to observer B. The light flashes
emitted just as A passes B, so both A and B are equidistant from the lamps when light is
emitted. Observer B measures the time interval between the light flashes. According to
postulate 2, the speed of light is not affected by the motion of the lamp relative to B.
Therefore, light travels equal distances, to him at equal speeds. Thus, observer B measures
the flashes to be simultaneous.
Now, let’s consider the point of view of observer B. Observer A receives the light from
the right first, because she has moved towards the flash lamp, lessening the distance the
light must travel and reducing the time it takes to get to her. From observer B’s point of view,
there is a time interval between the arrival of the flashes to observer A. Observer B
measures the flashes to be simultaneous relative to him but not relative to A. Here a relative
velocity between the observers affects whether two events are observed to be simultaneous.
Simultaneity into not absolute.
You might agree that if light is emitted simultaneously, then two observers halfway
between the sources would see the flashes simultaneously. But Einstein through his theory
has proved us wrong. In the theory of special relativity, two events are defined to be
simultaneous if an observer measures them as occurring at the same time. Two events are
not necessarily simultaneous to all observers. His claim has been repeatedly confirmed by
validity of thought experiments and by actual observations.

MASS -ENERGY EQUIVALENCE

The rest energy and total energy of the body are equivalent to rest mass (invariant
quantity which is the same for all observers in all reference frames) and relativistic mass
(dependent on the velocity of the observer).
Einstein’s theory of relativity clearly suggested that as an object moves faster, its
mass increases. However, this is only true if measured by an observer who is not moving
along with the object.
How does the mass seem to increase to an observer watching an object speeding
up? First, let’s consider that Einstein determined that the energy (E) and mass (m) are
related. He stated that the energy an object contains is simply its mass multiplied by the
speed of light squared. This is the well-known Mass-Energy equivalence, E=mc2.
Through this equation, Einstein tells us that the energy of a body always equal mc 2. It
is stated that when you are at rest, your rest mass is denoted as m o. Your energy to someone
observing you at rest would be m0c2. The rest energy is the minimum amount of energy you
always have whether you are at rest or not.
In physics, mass is simply a locked-up energy. Inertial mass is the amount of
resistance that a physical object has to any change in its motion. As an object increases in
speed, so does the amount of energy that it has, this increase in mass is what we refer as
the “relativistic mass”.

COSMIC SPEED LIMIT

For centuries, physicist thought there was no limit to how fast an object could travel.
However, Einstein showed that the universe does have a limit: the speed of light in a
vacuum. Nothing can travel faster than 300, 000 kilometer per second (186,000 miles per
second). Only massless particles, including photons, which make up light, can travel at the
aforementioned speed.

Why can’t object travel faster than light? It is because the faster an object travels, the
more massive it becomes. As an object with mass accelerate to higher speeds, they require
more energy to keep them accelerating. To attain light speed, you need infinite energy to
which is an impossibility.

LEARNING COMPETENCY WITH CODE:

MELC:

Explain the consequences of the postulates of Special Relativity (e.g., relativity of

simultaneity, time dilation, length contraction, mass- energy equivalence and cosmic speed
limit) S11/12PS-IV-j-70

ACTIVITIES/ EXERCISES:

  ACTIVITY 1: WORD SCRAMBLE

INSTRUCTION: Arrange and identify the scrambled word/s described in each

number.

1. It is the shortening of the measured length of a moving object relative to the

observer’s reference frame.
LTHEGN INCONTACTOR

2. A theory that explains the relationship between space and time.

SLEAPIC REVITALITY

3. The Slowing down of time as seen by the observer relative to a reference frame.
MITE ATOLIDIN
 4. This refers to the concept that whether two events occur at the same time –is not
absolute, but depends on the observer’s frame of reference.
TIVITYALRE OF LIMUSTTYIENA

5. This refers to the mass of a body in motion relative to the observer.

RECITATIVIL SAMS

6. This refers to a frame of reference that is not undergoing an acceleration.

TILARENI EMARF

7. This refer to any mathematical model that fused three dimensions of space and one
dimension of time into a four dimensional manifold.
SAPEC- EMIT

8. A physicist who introduced theories that explains how speed affects mass, time and
space.
RTEBLA STEINNIE

9. This refer to the idea that the laws of Physics are the same and can be stated in
their simplest form in all inertial frames of reference.
IRTSF LATEUTSOP OF TIVITYELAR

10. This states that for all reference frames, the speed of light (c) is the same no matter
what their relative speed is.
DONCES TULATEPO OF LATIVREITY

ACTIVITY 2: FILL IT UP!

INSTRUCTION: Complete the concept map of the Theory of Relativity by putting the
correct word/s or phrases inside the boxes.

THEORY OF RELATIVITY

is divided into

Special Relativity General Relativity

applies only to With two postulates

that applies only to

Result to

Scoring Rubric:
Score Description

5 Concepts were used accurately.

Sufficient number of relevant concepts are shown on the
concept map
3-4 Few concepts were presented and few inaccuracies are
shown on the concept map.
1-2 Limited concepts presented.
Many inaccuracies were shown on the concept map
0 No developed concept map.
 ACTIVITY 3: COMICS TIME

Instruction: Choose one of the consequences of the postulate of special relativity

(e.g., relativity of simultaneity, time dilation, length contraction, mass- energy
equivalence and cosmic speed limit). Afterwards, make a simple yet meaningful
comics strip explaining the consequence of the postulate of special relativity of your
choice.

RUBRIC FOR SCORING

Criteria 5 4 3 2 Score
Excellent Good Average Fair
Creativity
The comics reflects
students’ creativity.
There is a great
attention to details.
Sentence Structure
and Grammar
There are no spelling,
punctuation and
grammatical errors.
Content
Student understanding
of the scientific concept
is clearly evident.
Originality
Exceptional use of new
ideas is evident.
Total

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY

The pictures given on the subsequent page can play tricks on our rational and
reflective minds. Just like the special theory of relativity, these illusions use the observer’s
frame of reference or viewpoint. Try to answer and figure out which viewpoint can help you
solve the puzzles.

A. Which of the blue circles is larger?

 https://images.app.goo.gl/k257Sop5ZXJ9isz8

B. What I s the hidden message in the picture below?

https://images.app.goo.gl/u3C4HmchQcz5gQj88

REFLECTION:

Share your thoughts by completing the following sentence prompts.

In this activity, I have learned that

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
I wish to ask my teacher about
_______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

REFERENCES FOR LEARNERS:

Self –Learning Modules:

Guiad, Shemal. (2020). Quarter 2 –Module 6- Newtonian Mechanics and Maxwell’’s
Electromagnetic Theory. Department of Education. Region I. Laoag City.

Jonson. Lorna. (2020). Quarter 2- Module 8: Einstein Special and General Relativity.
Catarman Northern Colleges. Catarman, Northern Samar.

Sandoval, Christy. (2020), Quarter 2 –Module 13: Special Theory Of Relativity. Department of
Education. Region IV-A. CALABARZON.

Textbooks:

Young and Freedman. (2004). University Physics with Modern Physics 13 th Edition. Pearson
Education, Inc.

Internet Sources:

https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/einstein/light/cosmic-speed-limit
https://www.britannica.com/science/time-dilation
https://futurism.com/why-do-objects-increase-in-mass-as-they-get-faster-2
https://namp.americansforthearts.org/2019/05/15/the-theory-of-relativity
https://namp.americansforthearts.org/2019/05/15/the-theory-of-relativity

ANSWER KEY:

Activity 1: Word Scramble

1.Activity
Length 2:Contraction
Fill It Up!
2.Answers
Special Relativity
May Vary
3.Activity
Time Dilation
3: Comics Strip
Answers May
4. Relativity Vary
of Simultaneity
Additional Activity:
5. Relativistic Mass
A. The two circles are exactly the
6.same
Inertial Frame
size. The human brain is not
7.well
Space-Time
set to judge absolutes.
8.B.Albert Einstein
Can you see me?
9. First Postulate of Relativity
10. Second Postulate of Relativity

DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Author/ Writer: Romelyn Grace C. Borbe

Content Editor: Joeframil M. Sto. Domingo
Language Editor: Lerio Baraquiel
Education Program Supervisor: Jade O. Alberto, EdD