GPS and Einstein: Advance preview of new Perimeter Institute resource

"The GPS is everywhere. Everyday millions of ordinary people from farmers, to taxi drivers, to construction workers to anyone using satellite navigation in their car rely on it. What most of these people don’t know is that Einstein’s theory of relativity plays a critical role in the GPS’s operation. Einstein and his theory of relativity said that both speed and gravity affect how fast clocks tick and time itself passes. The GPS is based on incredibly precise timing and so needs to take these time dilation effects into account. Without relativity, it would be completely dysfunctional. This session introduces you to a new curriculum-based classroom resource for 4U physics by Perimeter Institute that explains the GPS and the key role relativity plays in its operation."

Damian is Senior Manager of Scientific Outreach at the Perimiter Institute, Waterloo, Ontario.