Frank L. H. Wolfs
Department of
Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Slide 34
Einstein's special theory of relativity.
¥Einstein's special theory of relativity was so
revolutionary that many great physicists had great difficulty accepting
it.
¥Einstein's special theory of relativity changed the
foundation of physics. Its
"design" was largely based on aesthetic arguments, rather than an
extensive set of observations that could not be explained in any other
way.
¥The only experimental information that was used by
Einstein (the Michelson-Morley experiment) could also be explained by making
small changes to existing theories, although it required the introduction of
unknown forces.