Option H: Relativity (HL ONLY) topic outline
H1: Introduction to relativity
Statement
Assessment Statement
Number
Frames of Reference
H.1.1
Describe what is meant by a frame of reference.
H.1.2
Describe what is meant by a Galilean transformation
Solve problems involving relative velocities using the Galilean transformation
H.1.3
equations
Obj
2
2
3
H2: concepts and postulates of special relativity
Statement
Number
H.2.1
H.2.2
H.2.3
Assessment Statement
Describe what is meant by an inertial frame of reference
State the two postulates of the special theory of relativity
Discuss the concept of simultaneity
Obj
2
1
3
H3: Relativistic kinematics
Statement
Assessment Statement
Number
Time Dilation
H.3.1
Describe the concept of a light clock
H.3.2
Define proper time interval
H.3.3
Derive the time dilation formula
Sketch and annotate a graph showing the variation with relative velocity of the
H.3.4
Lorentz factor
H.3.5
Solve problems involving time dilation
Length Contraction
H.3.6
Define proper length
H.3.7
Describe the phenomenon of length contraction
H.3.8
Solve problems involving length contraction
Obj
2
1
3
3
1
2
3
H4: some consequences of special relativity
Statement
Assessment Statement
Number
The twin paradox
H.4.1
Describe how the concept of time dilation leads to the “twin paradox”
H.4.2
Discuss the Hafele-Keating experiment
Velocity Addition
H.4.3
Solve one-dimensional problems involving the relativistic addition of velocities
Mass and Energy
H.4.4
State the formula representing the equivalence of mass and energy
H.4.5
Define rest mass
Distinguish between the energy of a body at rest and its total energy when
H.4.6
moving
H.4.7
Explain why no object can ever attain the speed of light in a vacuum
H.4.8
Determine the total energy of an accelerated particle
Obj
2
3
3
1
1
2
3
3
H5: Evidence to support special relativity
Statement
Number
H.5.1
H.5.2
H.5.3
H.5.4
H.5.5
Assessment Statement
Discuss muon decay as experimental evidence to support special relativity
Solve problems involving the muon decay experiment
Outline the Michelson-Morley experiment
Discuss the result of the Michelson-Morley experiment and its implication
Outline an experiment that indicates that the speed of light in a vacuum is
independent of its source
Obj
3
3
2
3
2
H6: Relativistic momentum and energy
Statement
Number
H.6.1
H.6.2
H.6.3
Assessment Statement
Apply the relation for the relativistic momentum p    m0u of particles
2
Apply the formula 𝐸𝑘 = (𝛾 − 1) ∙ 𝑚0 𝑐 for the kinetic energy of a particle
Solve problems involving relativistic momentum and energy
Obj
2
2
3
H7: General relativity
This section is intended as an introduction to the concepts of general relativity and is non-mathematical in
its approach
Statement
Assessment Statement
Number
The equivalence principle
H.7.1
Explain the difference between the terms gravitational mass and inertial mass
H.7.2
Describe and discuss Einstein’s principle of equivalence
Deduce that the principle of equivalence predicts bending of light rays in a
H.7.3
gravitational field
Deduce that the principle of equivalence predicts that time slows down near a
H.7.4
massive body
Spacetime
H.7.5
Describe the concept of spacetime
State that moving objects follow the shortest path between two points in
H.7.6
spacetime
H.7.7
Explain gravitational attraction in terms of the warping of spacetime by matter
Black Holes
H.7.8
Describe black holes
H.7.9
Define the term Schwarzschild radius
H.7.10
Calculate the Schwarzschild radius
H.7.11
Solve problems involving time dilation close to a black hole
Gravitational red-shift
H.7.12
Describe the concept of gravitational red-shift
Solve problems involving frequency shifts between different points in a
H.7.13
uniform gravitational field
Obj
3
3
3
3
2
1
3
2
1
2
3
2
3
H8: Evidence to support general relativity
Statement
Number
H.8.1
H.8.2
H.8.3
Assessment Statement
Outline an experiment for the bending of EM waves by a massive object
Describe gravitational lensing
Outline an experiment that provides evidence for gravitational red-shift
Obj
2
2
2