How to prove the Theory of Relativity,When Isaac Newton proposed the laws of gravity it was one it w
How to prove the Theory of Relativity,When Isaac Newton proposed the laws of gravity it was one it was one of the most important moments in the history of science. Newton’s laws, while mostly correct, had some gaps and errors that scientists spent centuries to correct. For example, while Newton proposed the laws of gravity, he only had a vague idea of what gravity was, or where it came from.In 1905 a brilliant young physicist who worked as a patent clerk proposed the Theory of Relativity. Einsteins theory unified mass and energy, space and time, and proposed that motion was relative to an observer even though the laws of physics never change. Perhaps the most important part of Einsteins theory was the proposal of the space time continuum. Before Einstein scientists theorized that light moved through a medium called “ether”. Einstein rejected the ether theory, and proposed that the universe was an interwoven continuum of space and time. Furthermore gravity is a distortion created as a result of mass reacting with space-time. The illustration below demonstrates this theory.Einstein’s theory was a very grand idea, however in the realm of science any theory must have empirical evidence to support it before it can be accepted as fact. As part of his theory, Einstein proposed that a massive object should have enough mass to bend light itself. From there many scientists worked out a proof for Relativity. In our solar system there is one object that has enough mass to bend light, that’s right the sun. The idea was that if Einstein’s theory on space time was correct, then the sun should bend the light of the stars behind it. If there was an absence of the sun’s light, say during a solar eclipse, then the stars behind the sun should be visible.By 1910 several expedition were mounted to observe the sun under solar eclipse to prove Einstein’s theory. Often, many of these expeditions were at the most remote and rugged areas of the world. Highly sensitive telescopes and cameras had to be used, and the margin for error was minimal. All expeditions failed, either due to rough conditions, faulty equipment, and even political turmoil. One expedition of German scientists had prepared for a solar eclipse to occur in the Crimea in 1914. They had all their equipment set up and the sun was about to eclipse when a suddenly a platoon of Russian soldiers surrounded and arrested them. Little did they know, Germany had declared war on Russia mere moments before, signalling the beginning of World War I.In 1922 an expedition was sent a remote part of Northern Australia called Wollal in order to catch an expected solar eclipse. Led by the astronomer Arthur Eddington, the expedition’s purpose was to prove Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. The expedition was no simple task. The men had to wade three miles through shallow water with all of their equipment to arrive at a deserted beach, then hike several more miles to their observation point. Where others had failed, Eddington had the latest in technology. When the eclipse came, the team took several snapshots of the sun. After development, to Eddington’s delight, several stars were noticeable in the photograph around the sun aurora. Einstein’s theory had been proven correct.Over the coming decades the experiment was repeated several times by different scientists, all yielding positive results. Today Albert Einstein is probably the most famous scientist in history, with his theory being taught in classrooms all over the world. -- source link
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