SPECIAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY

GENERAL THEORY OF RELATIVITY

 

Time dilation was demonstrated in 1971 by a pair of atomic clocks. Atomic clocks are extremely accurate clocks that can measure tiny amounts of time-billionths of a second. These clocks were used to test time dilation. One atomic clock remained on the ground, while another was sent around the world on a jet traveling at 600 mph. At the start, both clocks showed exactly the same time. As Einstein predicted in his Special Theory equations, the clocks showed different times upon return of the jet clock. The clock on the jet was behind by a few billionths of a second. With atomic clocks the time difference was significant even though the jet was not traveling even close too the speed of light.

 

 

The position of closest approach of a planet to the sun is called the perihelion. Because of the pull of other masses such as planets, the perihelion precesses over time. The advance if the perihelion of the planet Mercury cannot be completely accounted for in terms of the pull of the other planets in the solar system. It takes Einstein's powerful General Relativity equations to account for the remaining displacement in the advance of the perihelion. Gravity bends space.

 

 

 

 

Many experiments have been conducted to measure the speed of light from many different reference frames. The speed of light in a vacuum is measured as "c" in all of theses experiments. Check out the one conducted at Duke University.

Light bends in a gravitational field. This has been observed in many experiments. This effect is noted as gravitational lensing. See General Relativity.

What about gravity waves?

Particle accelerators push the speed of subatomic particles to very high values. Both length contraction and momentum changes are evident as these particles reach these speeds.

The Gravitational Red Shift tells us that the wavelength observed in a weak gravity space is shorter than the wavelength emitted in a stronger gravitational field. This shift has been detected by comparing the wavelengths of gamma rays emitted from nuclei vertically placed 20 apart.

states that mass and energy are equivalent and possess interchangeable properties. This has been confirmed by both nuclear fission and fusion.

 

Clocks slow down in the presence of gravitational fields. In 1970, Shapiro measured the time it took a laser beam to bounce off Venus and return to Earth when Venus was close to the sun. The trip took longer because of the stronger gravitational field.