What is the relativity of gravity?

What is the relativity of gravity?

What is general relativity? Essentially, it’s a theory of gravity. The basic idea is that instead of being an invisible force that attracts objects to one another, gravity is a curving or warping of space. The more massive an object, the more it warps the space around it.

Does relativity apply to gravity?

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. A massive object generates a gravitational field by warping the geometry of the surrounding spacetime.

What is Einstein gravitational theory?

Einstein did. He theorized that a mass can prod space plenty. It can warp it, bend it, push it, or pull it. Gravity was just a natural outcome of a mass’s existence in space (Einstein had, with his 1905 Special Theory of Relativity, added time as a fourth dimension to space, calling the result space-time.

What is inertia in general relativity?

In classical physics and special relativity, an inertial frame of reference is a frame of reference that is not undergoing acceleration. All inertial frames are in a state of constant, rectilinear motion with respect to one another; an accelerometer moving with any of them would detect zero acceleration.

Is general relativity proven?

General relativity has also been confirmed many times, the classic experiments being the perihelion precession of Mercury’s orbit, the deflection of light by the Sun, and the gravitational redshift of light. Other tests confirmed the equivalence principle and frame dragging.

Are there any gravitational forces in general relativity?

First, general relativity is a (geo)metric theory. There is no gravitational forces in general relativity. In general relativity, bodies affected only by gravitation are moving freely, but in a curved spacetime Note the zero at the right, which is a consequence of the absence of gravitational forces in general relativity.

When is special relativity used in the absence of gravity?

Special relativity is defined in the absence of gravity, so for practical applications, it is a suitable model whenever gravity can be neglected. Bringing gravity into play, and assuming the universality of free fall, an analogous reasoning as in the previous section applies: there are no global inertial frames.

What is the exact gravitational force between two masses?

In that case only m1 affects the geometry of spacetime, and m2 follows a geodesic in that spacetime. This has been solved exactly. The linked article gives details. Of course if m2 = 0, then the force between the two masses is 0. But the thing about classical gravity is that the acceleration due to gravity is independent of mass.

How does general relativity differ from classical mechanics?

General relativity differs from classical mechanics in a number of predictions concerning orbiting bodies. It predicts an overall rotation (precession) of planetary orbits, as well as orbital decay caused by the emission of gravitational waves and effects related to the relativity of direction.