The Geometry of Relativity and why your GPS works

A brief introductory lecture on the Global Positioning System (GPS), and how both Einstein's special and general theories of relativity need to be considered to ensure that it works properly.

We describe the satellite set-up of GPS, the use of cesium atomic clocks to transmit time and position information, and the geometry of why four satellite positions determine where we are. Precursors to this system include LORAN (Long Range Navigation system) of beacons used at sea, and earlier audio systems used in WW1 to try to determine enemy gun positions by measuring differences of distances from observers.

We discuss the accuracy of the clocks, and why Einstein's Special theory (SR) and General theory (GR) of relativity both are affecting this situation. We present simplified views of SR and GR, starting with the Michaelson-Morley experiment which showed that the speed of light was constant in different uniform motion coordinate systems, then Einstein's remarkable conclusion that there is no fixed reference coordinate system for the world: the laws of physics are the same for different observers moving at uniform motion with respect to each other. A bizarre consequence is that simultaneity of events is a relative notion.

GR is explained in terms of the Equivalence Principle relating observers in accelerated frames and in gravitational fields: this allows us to apply the (relativistic) Doppler effect to conclude that clocks higher in a gravitational field appear to run faster.

Both of these effects have effects on the running of the atomic clocks in the GPS satellites--in fact they work in opposite directions, and their cumulative effect must be taken into account by the engineers who manage the system.

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Screenshot PDFs for my videos are available at the website http://wildegg.com. These give you a concise overview of the contents of the lectures for various Playlists: great for review, study and summary.

My research papers can be found at my Research Gate page, at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Norman_Wildberger

My blog is at http://njwildberger.com/, where I will discuss lots of foundational issues, along with other things.

Online courses will be developed at openlearning.com. The first one, already underway is Algebraic Calculus One at https://www.openlearning.com/courses/algebraic-calculus-one/ Please join us for an exciting new approach to one of mathematics' most important subjects!

If you would like to support these new initiatives for mathematics education and research, please consider becoming a Patron of this Channel at https://www.patreon.com/njwildberger Your support would be much appreciated.

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Here are all the Insights into Mathematics Playlists:

Elementary Mathematics (K-6) Explained: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?
list=PL8403C2F0C89B1333
Year 9 Maths: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIljB45xT85CcGpZpO542YLPeDIf1jqXK
Ancient Mathematics: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIljB45xT85Aqe2b4FBWUGJdYROT6-o4e
Wild West Banking: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIljB45xT85DB7CzoFWvA920NES3g8tJH
Sociology and Pure Mathematics: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIljB45xT85A-qCypcmZqRvaS1pGXpTua
Old Babylonian Mathematics (with Daniel Mansfield): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?
list=PLIljB45xT85CdeBmQZ2QiCEnPQn5KQ6ov
Math History: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL55C7C83781CF4316
Wild Trig: Intro to Rational Trigonometry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3C58498718451C47
MathFoundations: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5A714C94D40392AB
Wild Linear Algebra: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIljB45xT85BhzJ-oWNug1YtUjfWp1qAp
Famous Math Problems: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIljB45xT85Bfc-S4WHvTIM7E-ir3nAOf
Probability and Statistics: An Introduction: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIljB45xT85AMigTyprOuf__daeklnLse
Boole's Logic and Circuit Analysis: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIljB45xT85CnIGIWb7tH1F_S2PyOC8rb
Universal Hyperbolic Geometry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIljB45xT85CN9oJ4gYkuSQQhAtpIucuI
Differential Geometry: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIljB45xT85DWUiFYYGqJVtfnkUFWkKtP
Algebraic Topology: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6763F57A61FE6FE8
Math Seminars: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBF39AFBBC3FB30AF
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And here are the Wild Egg Maths Playlists:

Triangle Centres: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLBGXDSUohM&list=PLzdiPTrEWyz6VcJQ5xcuqY6g4DWjvpmjM
Six: An elementary course in pure mathematics: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzdiPTrEWyz4KD007Ge10dfrDVc4YwlYS
Algebraic Calculus One: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzdiPTrEWyz4rKFN541wFKvKPSg5Ea6XB
Algebraic Calculus Two: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzdiPTrEWyz5VLVr-0LPPgm4T1mtU_DG-
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Видео The Geometry of Relativity and why your GPS works канала Insights into Mathematics