Brooke+G

The theory of relativity has both positively and negatively impacted society through global positioning devices and nuclear power.



According to Whittaker Chambers, a former editor of //Time//, “…to those who are interested in cause & effect in history, the features of a shy, almost saintly, c hildlike little man with the soft brown eyes, the drooping facial lines of a world-weary hound, and hair like an aurora borealis...Albert Einstein did not work directly on the atom bomb. But Einstein was the father of the bomb in two important ways: 1) it was his initiative which started U.S. bomb research; 2) it was his equation (E = mc2) which made the atomic bomb theoretically possible” (Isaacson). Even though nuclear power has brought destruction and death into the world, it has also helped to le ssen o ur reliance on non-renewable resources (Arora). When it comes to nuclear power, Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity has impacted society negatively with an equation enabling people to blow each other up with nuclear bo mbs and positively by allowing nations to be more self reliant when it comes to renewable energy sources.
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Global Positioning Systems __** “A GPS receiver in an airplane determines its current position and heading by comparing the time signals it receives from a number of the GPS satellites (usually 6 to 12) and triangulating on the known positions of each satellite” (GPS and Relativity). Currently, there is a network of twenty-four satellites in orbits around the Earth at approximately 20,00 km form the ground. The satellites orbital speed is roughly 14,000km/hour. From any position on Earth at any moment, there are a t  least four satellites visible. All GPS satellites have an atomic clock with an accuracy of one nanosecond. The GPS receivers, such as those in a car, must have an accuracy of 20-30 nanoseconds. The special and general theories of relativity must be put into use to achieve that accuracy due to the satellites constantly moving respective to observe  rs on Earth. By using both of the theories of relativity, it was predicted that the satellite clocks must be 38 microseconds faster than the clocks of ground based GPS devices in order to maintain the required accuracy (GPS and Relativity). **Big Brot** **her is always watching.** With the ability to figure out where you’re going, comes the ability for others to track you like a dog. Anyone can purchase a GPS tracking device and hide it on an unsuspecting victim’s vehicle and see where that person does or doesn’t go. Parents can sneak a GPS tracker onto their child’s car in order to make sure their kid is responsible and drives to where they are supposed. Police are also able to track a person’s comings and goings, but they must have a warrant. Without the warrant, the courts state that this would be an invasion of privacy (The Controversy about Using a GPS Tracking Device). In the event that your car was stolen, it would be extremely useful to have a hidden GPS tracker on your car so that you can relocate it.



Arora, Hans. "Einstein’s Theory of Relativity: Implications Beyond Science? — Science in Society." Google. 30 Jan. 2009 .
 * __Works Cited__**

"The Controversy about Using a GPS Tracking Device". GPS Globe Pro. 30 Jan 2009 .

"GPS and Relativity." The Ohio State University Department of Astronomy. 15 Dec. 2004. 28 Jan. 2009 [|http://www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~pogge/Ast162/Unit5/gps.html].

Isaacson, Walter. "Chain Reaction: From Einstein to the Atomic Bomb." Discover. 18 Mar 2008. Discover Magazine. 30 Jan 2009 .