Table of Contents
- 1 How did the equivalence principle lead to general relativity?
- 2 What is the equivalence principle introduced by Einstein?
- 3 Why do physicists still make use of Newton’s equations in describing gravitational forces on Earth?
- 4 What is Einstein’s equivalence principle quizlet?
- 5 How did Einstein change science’s perception of gravity?
- 6 What is the strong equivalence principle of gravity?
How did the equivalence principle lead to general relativity?
In the theory of general relativity, the equivalence principle is the equivalence of gravitational and inertial mass, and Albert Einstein’s observation that the gravitational “force” as experienced locally while standing on a massive body (such as the Earth) is the same as the pseudo-force experienced by an observer in …
What is the equivalence principle introduced by Einstein?
Einstein’s equivalence principle for a uniform gravitational field states that the motion of an object in an inertial reference frame is indistinguishable from the motion of the object in the absence of this field but with respect to a suitable uniformly accelerated reference system.
What was Einstein’s theory describing curved space time and gravity?
Gravity as Curved Spacetime Gravity feels strongest where spacetime is most curved, and it vanishes where spacetime is flat. This is the core of Einstein’s theory of general relativity, which is often summed up in words as follows: “matter tells spacetime how to curve, and curved spacetime tells matter how to move”.
What are some strong sources of gravitational waves that astronomers hope to detect in the future?
Astronomers hope to detect gravitational waves in the coalescence of two neutron stars in a binary system that spiral together until they merge, the swallowing of a neutron star by a black hole, the coalescence (merger) of two black holes, the implosion of a massive star to form a neutron star or a black hole, or the …
Why do physicists still make use of Newton’s equations in describing gravitational forces on Earth?
If general relativity offers the best description of what happens in the presence of gravity, why do physicists still make use of Newton’s equations in describing gravitational forces on Earth (when building a bridge, for example)? They work perfectly well for what we use them for. You just studied 8 terms!
What is Einstein’s equivalence principle quizlet?
What is the equivalence principle? The equivalence principle says that no experiment performed inside a closed room can tell you whether you are at rest in the presence of gravity or accelerating in the absence of gravity.
Why is the equivalence principle important?
Einstein’s Equivalence Principle is crucial to Einstein’s theory of general relativity in that it states that mass is the same whether inertial or gravitational, and so these types of movement are not altered by mass.
What does the equivalence principle say?
At the heart of Einstein’s theory of gravity (general relativity) is the equivalence principle. The equivalence principle says that there is no difference between being stationary and subject to gravity tugging you and accelerating in a vehicle that’s free of gravitational pull.
How did Einstein change science’s perception of gravity?
Einstein’s genius changed science’s perception of gravity. General relativity has grown more important than it was in Einstein’s day. GETTING A GRIP ON GRAVITY Einstein’s general theory of relativity explains gravity as a distortion of space (or more precisely, spacetime) caused by the presence of matter or energy.
What is the strong equivalence principle of gravity?
The strong equivalence principle. Einstein’s theory of general relativity (including the cosmological constant) is thought to be the only theory of gravity that satisfies the strong equivalence principle. A number of alternative theories, such as Brans–Dicke theory, satisfy only the Einstein equivalence principle.
What was Einstein’s contribution to special relativity?
Einstein built special relativity on the principle that light’s velocity was constant; he suspected that general relativity could be built on the principle that inertial and gravitational mass are equivalent. If he succeeded, it would mean that nature’s laws could be the same for all forms of motion. At first progress was slow.
Is the equivalence principle a founding principle of general relativity?
Although the equivalence principle guided the development of general relativity, it is not a founding principle of relativity but rather a simple consequence of the geometrical nature of the theory.