What are the key principles of the special theory of relativity?

The special theory of relativity, formulated by Albert Einstein in 1905, is based on two key principles. The first principle, the principle of relativity, states that the laws of physics are the same in all inertial reference frames. This means that the laws governing the behavior of objects and the propagation of light are consistent regardless of the observer's relative motion. The second principle, the constancy of the speed of light, states that the speed of light in a vacuum is constant and independent of the motion of the source or observer. This implies that the passage of time is relative and depends on the relative velocity between two observers. These principles revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and the relationship between matter and energy, giving birth to the concept of the spacetime continuum and leading to remarkable predictions and discoveries in the field of physics.

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