Einsteins Theory of Relativity
When astronomers gaze out to the heavens these days, they see planets, stars and other celestial bodies. They understand how they move in relation to one another and the space they are in. This is due to the works of Albert Einstein nearly a century ago. Before then they were limited to understanding the universe based on the predictions, observations and calculations of mainly Isaac Newton. They were the backbone of classical physics, defining the world using the simplest of calculations. Newton's calculations were made using the primitive devices available in the seventeenth century. As technology advanced through the ages, problems became apparent with the simple calculations, and formulae of Newton. They allowed for holes in the way they described nature. These holes did not allow for the true nature of light, time and space. Nor did they explain certain phenomena encountered in the Michelson-Morley experiment. This led to the development of Einstein's theories of Special, then General Relativity, which redefined the world, and abolished many required aspects of classical physics. Classical physics was based on assumptions that the world can be defined with absolute constants. One such assumption was of the ether. The ether
Mathematically the speed of light, between to bodies can be kept constant by using transformations. Lorentz transformations are used to transform time, t, and space coordinates, x, y, z of an event with relation to one reference body, it was possible to create equations whereby the space coordinates, x', y', z' and the time, t' of the same event (Guggenheimer 100-101). This is where the term space-time comes from, since time and space are on the same system of coordinates. According to Einstein's postulate, the time on the sun is relative to the time on the earth. For one second of time on the sun clock, the clock on earth works slower, or one mile observed from the sun is larger than observed from the earth, or both. Newtonian physics are based on the assumptions that the quantity t = t' for all relative frames of reference (Yilmaz 6). The value for time, t, with respect to the motion of a body measured from one point of reference, and t' is time measured from another point of reference. This assumption means that for inertial or uniform frames of reference time is constant or absolute. Another aspect of the theory of General Relativity is that of the existence of curved space-time. The idea of curved space-time as Hawking recalls, "it was confirmed in spectacular fashion in 1919, when a British expedition observed a slight shift in the position of stars near the sun during an eclipse" (79). The slight shift was due to light beams bending near the curved space-time of the sun. During a short time frame, Albert Einstein managed to up root the foundations of physics. His theories broke and then rewrote the laws that define the universe. Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity, which solves the problem of the speed of light, and the definition of space, dissolved the laws of classical physics defined by Isaac Newton. This theory also led to the demise of ether theory, and Absolute Time or Universal Time. The Michelson-Morley experiment which was conducted on the basis that the ether did exist as defined by Newton. Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity was the solution to the problems created by the Michelson-Morley experiment, and classical physics. Once again, Einstein revolutionized the world by releasing his Theory of General Relativity. This theory narrowed the gap to the un
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Approximate Word count = 1557
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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