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Lecture 8: Warped Space. Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity (GR). The effects of gravity can be described in terms of curved space-time. Recall a car moving round a bend undergoes acceleration. Driver will feel a centrifugal force pushing him outwards. Similarly ….
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Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity (GR) • The effects of gravity can be described in terms of curved space-time
Recall a car moving round a bend undergoes acceleration Driver will feel a centrifugalforce pushing him outwards
Similarly … • When space-time is curved, particles moving in it experience an acceleration • By the equivalence principle, we interpret these particles as being affected by the force of gravity
General Relativity (cont’d) • Geometry of space-time is curved by matter in the space-time • On the other hand, the curvature of space-time determines how the matter will move
Experimental Tests of GR • Bending of light • Gravitational redshift • Precession of Mercury • Gravity waves
Precession of Mercury • Mercury’s orbit is known to precess by 43 arcseconds per century • Newtonian gravity could not explain this, but GR is able to!