General Relativity Flashcards
When does special relativity apply?
When an object is moving at a constant speed in a straight line.
General relativity allows us to study…
Non-inertial frames of references - which is one that is accelerating.
Einstein’s equivalence principle
It is impossible to tell the difference between a uniform gravitational field and a frame of reference that has a constant acceleration. —> Gravity is equivalent to acceleration.
What would happen to light going into space shuttle at a constant speed close to c
It will be in a straight line downwards at an angle less than 45 degrees to the point it entered
What would happen to light going into space shuttle accelerating close to c
It will bend downwards at an increasing gradient but still less than 45 degrees to the point it entered
2 clocks one at top and bottom of spacecraft accelerating through space which is observed to be slower
Time on lower clock would appear to be slower as the time between pulses from clock Q would take longer to arrive at the observer
What clock runs slower clock in strong gravitational field or weak gravitational field
Clock in strong gravitational field runs slower
Spacetime z axis is
Time
Negative cone is
All the past events that could’ve contributed to event E at the origin
Path of an object through spacetime is called
Worldline
Vertical wordline is
Stationary
Constant velocity wordline
Straight line at an angle
Accelerating worldline
Curved
Faster object
Lower gradient worldline
How does light travel in spacetime?
It follows a geodesic path
