General Relativity Flashcards
what does special relativity deal with?
the observation that the speed of light is a constant for all observers, independent of their inertial frame of reference
General relativity leads to the interpretation that…
mass curves space-time and what we perceive as gravity arises from the curvature of space-time.
what frames of reference does special relativity deal with?
inertial
what frames of reference does general relativity deal with?
non-inertial
As the mass of an object increases…
the distortion of space-time will also increase
what is the equivalence principle?
when physics experiments are carried out in a uniform gravitational field and in a non-inertial reference frame, the same observations are made.
The effects of constant acceleration are the same as those of a uniform gravitational field.
where do clocks tick slower?
In a larger gravitational field or the back of an accelerating spacecraft
If an object is thrown (curved path) on a spacecraft accelerating upwards, what would a stationary observer see?
The object following a straight line
Dimensions of space-time
3 space (x,y,z) and 1 time
how to represent constant position on a space-time diagram
straight line along the time axis
how to represent constant speed on a space-time diagram
diagonal line moving through space and time
not more than 45 degrees (c)
how to represent constant acceleration on a space-time diagram
curved line with changing gradient
matter tells…
space how to curve
space tells…
matter how to move
geodesic
smaller objects will move along the shortest possible line that they can in curved space
this line is called geodesic
