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Physics > General relativity > Flashcards

General relativity Flashcards

1
Q

Who developed the theory of general relativity?

A

Albert Einstein

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2
Q

True or False: General relativity describes gravity as a force between masses.

A

False

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3
Q

Fill in the blank: In general relativity, gravity is described as the curvature of ______.

A

spacetime

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4
Q

What year was the theory of general relativity published?

A

1915

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5
Q

Multiple Choice: What does the Einstein field equation relate?

A

The geometry of spacetime to the distribution of matter

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6
Q

What is the principle of equivalence in general relativity?

A

The idea that local observations in a freely falling elevator are indistinguishable from those in deep space.

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7
Q

True or False: General relativity predicts the bending of light around massive objects.

A

True

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8
Q

Fill in the blank: The concept of spacetime combines ______ and ______ into a single four-dimensional continuum.

A

space; time

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9
Q

What phenomenon did general relativity predict that was confirmed during the solar eclipse of 1919?

A

Gravitational lensing

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10
Q

Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a consequence of general relativity?

A

Time dilation in strong gravitational fields

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11
Q

What is a black hole?

A

A region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing can escape from it.

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12
Q

True or False: General relativity allows for the existence of wormholes.

A

True

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13
Q

Fill in the blank: The speed of light in a vacuum is a constant denoted by the letter _____.

A

c

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14
Q

What is the significance of the cosmological constant in general relativity?

A

It accounts for the observed acceleration of the universe’s expansion.

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15
Q

Multiple Choice: What kind of geometry does general relativity use to describe spacetime?

A

Non-Euclidean geometry

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16
Q

True or False: General relativity has been confirmed by numerous experiments and observations.

A

True

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17
Q

What is the term for the effect of time passing more slowly in a stronger gravitational field?

A

Gravitational time dilation

18
Q

Fill in the blank: The observable universe is approximately _____ billion years old.

A

13.8

19
Q

What does the term ‘event horizon’ refer to in the context of black holes?

A

The boundary beyond which nothing can escape the gravitational pull of a black hole.

20
Q

Multiple Choice: Which of the following is NOT a prediction of general relativity?

A

Constant gravitational force

21
Q

What is gravitational waves?

A

Ripples in spacetime caused by accelerating masses, predicted by general relativity.

22
Q

True or False: General relativity applies to both large-scale structures and small-scale phenomena.

A

False

23
Q

Fill in the blank: The theory of general relativity replaced Newton’s law of ______.

A

universal gravitation

24
Q

What is the role of the metric tensor in general relativity?

A

It describes the geometry of spacetime and how distances are measured.

25
Q

Multiple Choice: Which scientist’s work influenced Einstein’s development of general relativity?

A

Henri Poincaré

26
Q

What is frame dragging?

A

The effect where a rotating mass drags spacetime around with it.

27
Q

True or False: General relativity is a linear theory.

A

False

28
Q

Fill in the blank: The Schwarzschild solution describes the gravitational field outside a ______.

A

spherical non-rotating mass

29
Q

What does the term ‘geodesic’ refer to in general relativity?

A

The shortest path between two points in curved spacetime.

30
Q

Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a key feature of general relativity?

A

Spacetime is curved by mass and energy.

31
Q

What is the difference between special relativity and general relativity?

A

Special relativity deals with non-accelerating frames, while general relativity includes acceleration and gravity.

32
Q

True or False: General relativity predicts that light can be affected by gravity.

A

True

33
Q

Fill in the blank: Einstein’s general relativity is a theory of ______.

A

gravitation

34
Q

What is the significance of the Friedmann equations in cosmology?

A

They describe the expansion of the universe in general relativity.

35
Q

Multiple Choice: Which of the following is an application of general relativity?

A

GPS satellite technology

36
Q

What is the role of matter and energy in the Einstein field equations?

A

They determine the curvature of spacetime.

37
Q

True or False: General relativity has no implications for the behavior of light.

A

False

38
Q

Fill in the blank: The term ‘singularity’ refers to a point where gravitational forces are ______.

A

infinite

39
Q

What is the significance of the LIGO experiment?

A

It confirmed the existence of gravitational waves predicted by general relativity.

40
Q

Multiple Choice: Which of the following would be an example of spacetime curvature?

A

A massive star bending the path of nearby light

41
Q

What is the difference between a neutron star and a black hole?

A

A neutron star is a collapsed star supported by neutron degeneracy pressure, while a black hole has no escape from its gravity.

42
Q

True or False: General relativity is compatible with quantum mechanics.

A

False

Physics (12 decks)

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