Identification

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  Relativistic effects occur as a result of how light and energy interact with objects moving at speeds that approach the speed of light. These effects are only apparent in large scale objects that exist outside of quantum-sized materials. There are three types of effects that occur as a result of the relativity of simultaneity: time dilation, length contraction, and mass increase. And while any sized object moving at any speed will exhibit these effects, they are only noticeable when an object is moving at speeds that approach the speed of light. What's noticeable appears to be changes occurring in the physical dimensions of an object, but the object itself is not changing. It's the frame of reference that changes as a result of the different positions of observer and object. We, as observers, at a standstill, are viewing an object that's moving at a speed that's beyond our frame reference.
  
  

Function

• The idea of relativistic effects came about as a result of Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity. In an attempt to explain why the mechanics of quantum physics and relativity were incompatible, Einstein's theory took on a new approach to understanding how space and time interact with physical objects in motion, regardless of their size. And while relativistic effects do occur in quantum-sized objects, they are only noticeable when larger atoms, molecules and large scale objects are observed. The two fundamental premises of Einstein's theory were based on applying the laws of physics as they relate to particular sets of circumstances. What this means is a passenger on a spaceship traveling close to the speed of light and an observer on the ground are experiencing space and time in the same way. It's the difference in their circumstances--one is stationary, while one is moving--that causes the effects. This represents the relativity of simultaneity effect, where simultaneous effects cannot be observed from two different frames of reference.
  
  

Theories/Speculation

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  The Theory of Special Relativity is based on the premise that the speed of light remains the same regardless of where an observer is located, or whether he is moving. This differed from Newtonian physics which posited that distance affects how fast light moves. Einstein's theory proved that the speed of light is the same at all times, but the perspectives of different observers in different locations was different. This difference in perspective accounts for the relativistic effects that occur.
  In addition, Einstein proposed that time flowed at different rates depending on how fast an object was moving. As the speed of light (180,000 miles per second) is considered the maximum speed possible within our space-time continuum, the closer an object comes to traveling at the speed of light, the slower time will move. This represents the time dilation effect of relativity.
  
  

Features

• In the case of size, objects moving at high speeds appear to grow smaller the further they move away. This is the length contraction effect of relativity that results as speeds approach the speed of light. As light's speed is limited to 180,000 miles per second, objects approaching this speed are sending light reflections back to an observer at different rates. The further away a portion of the object is from the observer, the longer its light reflections take to reach the observer's position. This means the observer sees the portions of the object which are closest before seeing the part that's further away. This effects makes the object look smaller from the observer's point of view.
  
  

Effects

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  Einstein's equation of E=mc2--energy is equal to mass times the speed of light, squared--is the basis for the mass increase effect of relativity. This equation depicts energy and mass as equal materials that can transfer from one state to another. In the case of an object moving near the speed of light, this effect would cause the object to gain mass, or weight, as it approached light speed since the amount of energy needed to propel the object this fast would need to increase as well. An example of this would be the difference in how hard a slow punch to the gut would land, as opposed to a fast punch. The fast punch would carry more weight as a result of the force that drove it. This effect illustrates how energy transfers into the weight of an object.