What key concept does the General Theory of Relativity introduce?
It introduces the concept that gravity is a curvature of spacetime caused by mass.
Who developed the General Theory of Relativity?
Albert Einstein developed the General Theory of Relativity, publishing it in 1915.
What is the equivalence principle in General Relativity?
The equivalence principle states that gravitational and inertial effects are locally indistinguishable.
How does General Relativity differ from Newton's theory of gravity?
General Relativity describes gravity as a geometric property of space and time, unlike Newton's force-based approach.
What is a black hole according to General Relativity?
A black hole is a region of spacetime exhibiting such strong gravitational effects that nothing, not even light, can escape.
How does General Relativity explain the precession of Mercury's orbit?
General Relativity accounts for the precession through the curvature of spacetime near the Sun.
What role do tensor equations play in General Relativity?
Tensor equations describe the gravitational field and how mass and energy interact with spacetime.
What is gravitational time dilation?
Gravitational time dilation is the effect where time runs slower in stronger gravitational fields.
How was General Relativity confirmed through observation?
The deflection of light by the sun, observed during a solar eclipse in 1919, confirmed General Relativity.
What is the cosmological constant?
The cosmological constant was introduced by Einstein to achieve a static universe, later associated with dark energy and universal expansion.
How does GPS technology relate to General Relativity?
GPS satellites adjust for differences in time experienced in Earth's gravitational field compared to the satellites' orbit.
What is frame dragging?
Frame dragging is an effect where a massive rotating body 'drags' spacetime around with it.
How does the bending of light occur in General Relativity?
Light bends due to spacetime curvature around massive objects, a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing.
What is a geodesic in the context of General Relativity?
A geodesic is the path in spacetime that represents the shortest, or straightest, distance between two points, influenced by gravity.
Describe Einstein's field equations.
Einstein's field equations are a set of ten interrelated tensor equations describing the fundamental interaction of gravitation as a result of spacetime being curved by matter and energy.