The Special Theory of Relativity, formulated by Albert Einstein in 1905, revolutionized our understanding of space and time. Prior to Einstein's theory, physicists believed in a fixed and absolute framework for describing the universe. However, experimental evidence began to challenge this notion, leading to the need for a new theoretical framework.

One such experiment was the famous Michelson-Morley experiment, which aimed to detect the existence of an 'ether' - the hypothetical medium through which light waves were thought to propagate. Surprisingly, the experiment failed to detect any velocity difference between the Earth's motion around the Sun and the motion of light. This result contradicted classical physics and paved the way for Einstein's new theory.

The Special Theory of Relativity postulates that the laws of physics are the same for all observers in uniform motion. It introduces the idea that time and space are not separate entities but rather part of a four-dimensional continuum called spacetime. This continuum is not fixed but can be curved or distorted by masses and energies.

Moreover, the theory proposes that the speed of light is constant for all observers, regardless of their relative motion. This concept challenges our everyday intuition but has been rigorously confirmed by numerous experiments. As a consequence of this postulate, other physical quantities, such as time intervals and distances, are subject to alterations, leading to phenomena like time dilation and length contraction.

In the next few posts, we will dive deeper into the fascinating concepts of the Special Theory of Relativity, exploring Lorentz transformations, time dilation, length contraction, and the interconnectedness of these phenomena.