Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity
June 30, 1905 · 20th Century
On June 30, 1905, Albert Einstein published his paper 'Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper' (On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies) in Annalen der Physik while working in Bern. The paper introduced special relativity theory with two postulates: the laws of physics remain consistent across all inertial reference frames, and light speed in vacuum remains constant regardless of source or observer motion. The theory demonstrated that space and time relate to observer motion, producing effects including time dilation, length contraction, and relativity of simultaneity. Later in 1905, Einstein derived E=mc² in a follow-up paper, establishing mass-energy equivalence.
Key Figures
Albert Einstein
Locations
Bern
Topics
physicsscientific revolutionrelativityspace-time
Connected Events — 2 Connections
Special relativity's success with uniform motion led Einstein to extend the theory to accelerated motion and gravity, culminating in general relativity which reinterpreted gravity as spacetime curvature Einstein Publishes General Theory of Relativity
The experiment's null result helped establish that light speed is constant regardless of Earth's motion through space, providing crucial empirical foundation for Einstein's second postulate of special relativity Michelson-Morley Experiment Finds No Aether Drift
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