The theory of relativity by Albert Einstein
In 1915, Albert Einstein revolutionized physics. He described in the General Theory of Relativity how gravity arises when space and time writhe.
Extreme consequences are such exotic objects as black holes, the researchers have not understood until today, or gravitational waves whose direct detection still failed. And how Einstein's cosmos could be reconciled with the equations of quantum physics - this will probably be one of the greatest tasks of theoretical physics of the current century.
The theory of relativity is essentially about experiencing two objects that move relative to one another, hence the name: theory of relativity. The effects of relativity occur only at high speeds, at velocities comparable to the speed of light: time increases, scales shorten, and the mass of the moving object increases. This is described in the "special theory of relativity". The second possibility: they occur in the presence of large masses. This is described in the "general theory of relativity".
In addition: E = mc2 , which means that energy is "equivalent" to the mass. Energy can be converted to mass, and vice versa. This is the so-called "mass defect". When light atomic nuclei fuse (hydrogen to helium), the final product is slightly lighter, some of the mass has been converted to energy and released. Or when heavy atomic nuclei decay - some of the mass has been converted to energy, the end products are slightly lighter than all the ingredients.
How come?
Before the theory of relativity existed, it was thought that space and time are absolute. They do not change. They went in search of the "absolute cosmic platform", something to which one can relate his speed. As a person on the train goes at 5 km / h. But compared to the platform at 105 km / h, when the train itself runs at 100 km / h.
It was thought that the "ether" would be such a suitable quiet thing. It fills the entire universe, is absolutely transparent, because the light penetrates, and is the carrier of light, which has a very high speed - so the ether would have to be extremely "tough", because only so a substance allows such high speeds. Michelson-Morley set out with a famous experiment to search for this ether - and they proved that it does not exist.
There is therefore no absolute speed, only relative speeds of objects to each other. If you think that over, and Einstein did that, you get very peculiar results that made a change in the physical world picture necessary.
The requirements
The theory of relativity assumes that the speed of light is always and everywhere the same: around 300,000 km / s. That's 7 1/2 times around the earth in one second. And in addition, something amazing: Whether you fire a flashlight from a fast spaceship, or from a moving train, or from the armchair in the room - it always has this timidity. From this Einstein concluded:
Details
When a traveler moves relative to an observer, the observer will notice:
1. The time of the traveler is extended.
2. Its distances in flight direction are shortened.
3. The mass of the traveler increases.
4. The "simultaneity" is also not very clear. What is simultaneous, when light needs time to move through the universe?
These are the effects of the "special theory of relativity". It describes the behavior of space and time from the point of view of observers moving relative to each other and the phenomena associated with it.
Based on this, the "general theory of relativity" traces gravitation back to a curvature of space and time. It is caused by the masses involved. Just as a billiard ball pushes a rubber mat down, masses in the universe change the space-time (a texture that can be thought of as a "rubber mat").
The theory of relativity thus deals with the structure of space and time and the nature of gravitation. For the first time, space and time are not seen as something solid, but as something changeable.
Einstein published the special theory of relativity in 1905 and the general relativity theory in 1915. His theories were no longer clearly understandable, but needed a fair amount of mathematics to understand them rudimentarily.
And who says that's all right?
On the one hand atomic clocks. They are very accurate. Two of them are juxtaposed and synchronized. Then one of them flies around with a plane for a long time. Then you compare both again - and by the movement is the flown something "younger", it lacks a few millionths of a second.
On the other hand, particle accelerator. They are built to accelerate elementary particles at speeds approaching the speed of light. Their mass then increases according to Einstein's Theory of Relativity. The plants must be built accordingly, otherwise the things pop on the wall.
And muons: these are elementary particles that are created in the upper atmosphere by the collision of cosmic radiation with air particles. Their half-life is very low, actually they should not be able to cover the 20 km to the ground at this time. And yet they are measured. There are two arguments for this - the first from the point of view of muons: "Our time passes much more slowly because we are so fast, so we manage to reach the ground in the extended time". Or from our point of view, observers: "The fact that the muons are so fast, shrinks the distance they have to fly to reach the earthquake. In their short half-life, they manage the short distance well.
And then: the sun. It "generates" its energy with energy-mass equivalence. It converts a lot of matter into energy per second and radiates through it. Oh yes, the twin paradox says that twins - separated at birth - are different ages, when one of them flies through the universe and then they see each other again. This is a thought experiment - analogous to the case with the two clocks from which one lets fly.
Some great on Theory of Relativity you can buy in discount by clicking on shop now.
No comments:
Post a Comment