General theory of relativity

Definition

General theory of relativity, proposed by Albert Einstein, describes gravity as the warping of spacetime by matter and energy. It revolutionized our understanding of gravitational forces and their effects on light and time.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. General relativity predicts that massive objects cause a curvature in spacetime, which we perceive as gravity.
2. The theory has been confirmed through several key experiments, including the bending of light around the sun observed during solar eclipses.
3. Black holes are one of the most extreme predictions of general relativity, where spacetime curvature becomes infinitely steep.
4. Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime caused by accelerating masses, first directly detected in 2015 by LIGO.
5. Time dilation is an effect predicted by general relativity, where time runs slower in stronger gravitational fields.

Review Questions

• How does general relativity describe the effect of gravity?
• What astronomical phenomenon provided early confirmation of general relativity?
• What are gravitational waves and how were they first detected?

Related terms

Spacetime: The four-dimensional continuum consisting of three spatial dimensions and one time dimension.

Black Hole: A region in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that not even light can escape.

Gravitational Waves: Ripples in spacetime caused by some of the most violent and energetic processes in the universe.