Support materials only that illustrate some possible contexts for exploring Science as a Human Endeavour concepts in relation to Science Understanding content.
Many scientists, including Albert Michelson, Hendrik Lorentz and Henri Poincaré, contributed to the development of the special theory of relativity. Lorentz’s Transformation and his ideas about the aether initially explained the Doppler effect. They were improved upon by the next generation of scientists developing theories about electromagnetic mass and ideas about inertial frames of reference and relative motion. Albert Einstein’s work on special relativity built upon the work of scientists such as Maxwell and Lorentz, while subsequent studies by Max Planck, Hermann Minkowski and others led to the development of relativistic theories of gravitation, mass-energy equivalence and quantum field theory. The Michelson-Morley and Fizeau experiments provided evidence for the special theory of relativity (ACSPH123).
Ring laser gyroscopes (RLG) are inertial guidance systems that do not rely on signals from an external source but from instruments on board a moving object. RLGs use small differences in the time it takes light to travel around the ring in two directions, known as the Sagnac effect. RLGs have many advantages over other systems: they are highly accurate, have no moving parts, are compact and lightweight, and do not resist changes to their orientation (ACSPH122). RLGs are commonly used in aircraft for accurate navigation and have military applications in helicopters, ships, submarines and missiles.
Special relativity leads to the idea of mass-energy equivalence, which has been applied in nuclear fission reactors. Nuclear reactors are most commonly used for power generation, propulsion and scientific research. Research reactors have resulted in advances in areas such as medicine and materials testing and fabrication through provision of nuclear isotopes for industrial and medical applications. Although nuclear reactors provide a range of benefits, there is considerable public concern over safety and security issues (ACSPH124). Data from the nuclear industry indicates that nuclear power reactors pose an acceptable risk to public safety and that much has been done to limit that risk. However, other groups argue that such a risk is not acceptable, and, even if no accidents occur, storage of the radioactive waste produced from nuclear facilities remains a safety concern (ACSPH126).