Theory of general relativity

Definition

Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity describes gravity as the warping of spacetime by mass and energy. It revolutionized our understanding of gravity, replacing Newton's law of universal gravitation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The theory predicts that massive objects cause a curvature in spacetime, which is experienced as gravity.
2. General relativity explains the precession of Mercury’s orbit, something Newtonian mechanics could not accurately predict.
3. Einstein's equations suggest that the universe is either expanding or contracting, leading to the development of cosmological models like the Big Bang theory.
4. The bending of light around massive objects, known as gravitational lensing, is a direct prediction of general relativity and has been observed in astronomical phenomena.
5. The discovery of the Cosmic Microwave Background radiation supported the idea that the universe had a beginning and expanded from a hot, dense state.

Review Questions

• What does Einstein's theory of general relativity say about gravity?
• How did general relativity contribute to our understanding of the universe's expansion?
• What phenomenon demonstrates the bending of light due to massive objects as predicted by general relativity?

Related terms

Big Bang Theory: A model describing the origin and expansion of the universe from a hot, dense initial state approximately 13.8 billion years ago

Cosmic Microwave Background: The residual thermal radiation from the early stages of the universe, providing evidence for its hot, dense origin

Gravitational Lensing: The bending and focusing of light from distant objects by massive bodies between them and an observer