25.2. The Theory of General Relativity http://www.ck12.org
(c) mass.
(d) force.- Gravity can bend the path of light.
(a) True
(b) False - Strong gravitational fields can alter the rate of time passing.
(a) True
(b) False - Under what circumstances will a light beam follow a curved path?
(a) when emitted from a moving source
(b) when measured from an accelerating space ship
(c) when measured in the presence of an extreme gravitational field
(d) NEVER - If you are traveling toward the star Sirius at 1. 5 × 108 m/s, what speed would you measure for the speed of
light arriving at your ship from Sirius?
(a) 3. 0 × 108 m/s
(b) 1. 5 × 108 m/s
(c) 4. 5 × 108 m/s
(d) 0 m/s
- the general theory of relativity:Einstein’s Theory of Gravitation based on the postulate that the local effects
of a gravitational field and of acceleration of an inertial system are identical.
The Theory of Special Relativity is very interesting and can be used to address some of the inconsistencies with
Newton’s Laws that crop up when dealing with objects in different frames of reference. It has been often stated,
however, that the Theory of Special Relativity was ’an idea whose time had come’ and that if Einstein had not
proposed it when he did, that someone else would have before long. The Theory of General Relativity, however,
is considered to be one of the most fantastic achievements of the human mind in all of history. General Relativity
explains how gravity affects both space and time, and the consequences can be truly fascinating.