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The theory of general relativity predicts that light rays are bent near a massive body. If world lines must follow warps in space, beams of light passing near the Sun should be deflected slightly. This prediction of a stellar shift was verified by observations of solar eclipses in 1919 and 1922.
Learn the basics of special relativity, the two theories that Albert Einstein developed to explain the laws of physics in different reference frames. Find out how the speed of light, energy, mass, length and time are related and how they apply to everyday life. Take a quiz and listen to a reading of this page.
- Development and Acceptance
- Special Relativity
- General Relativity
- Experimental Evidence
- Modern Applications
- See Also
Albert Einstein published the theory of special relativity in 1905, building on many theoretical results and empirical findings obtained by Albert A. Michelson, Hendrik Lorentz, Henri Poincaré and others. Max Planck, Hermann Minkowskiand others did subsequent work. Einstein developed general relativitybetween 1907 and 1915, with contributions by ma...
Special relativity is a theory of the structure of spacetime. It was introduced in Einstein's 1905 paper "On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies" (for the contributions of many other physicists and mathematicians, see History of special relativity). Special relativity is based on two postulates which are contradictory in classical mechanics: 1. Th...
General relativity is a theory of gravitation developed by Einstein in the years 1907–1915. The development of general relativity began with the equivalence principle, under which the states of accelerated motion and being at rest in a gravitational field (for example, when standing on the surface of the Earth) are physically identical. The upshot ...
Einstein stated that the theory of relativity belongs to a class of "principle-theories". As such, it employs an analytic method, which means that the elements of this theory are not based on hypothesis but on empirical discovery. By observing natural processes, we understand their general characteristics, devise mathematical models to describe wha...
Far from being simply of theoretical interest, relativistic effects are important practical engineering concerns. Satellite-based measurement needs to take into account relativistic effects, as each satellite is in motion relative to an Earth-bound user, and is thus in a different frame of reference under the theory of relativity. Global positionin...
In Spanish: Teoría de la relatividad para niños 1. Doubly special relativity 2. Galilean invariance 3. General relativity references 4. Special relativity references
Learn how the speed of light, time dilation, and gravity are related to Einstein's theory of relativity. Find out how light travels at a constant speed of 299,792,458 m/s and how time passes slower or faster depending on the speed of the observer. Explore the concept of light year, time dilation, and how light bends in a gravitational field.
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