The special theory of relativity was based on two main postulates: first, that the spee

General relativity is physicist Albert Einstein's understanding of how gravity affects the fabric of space-time

The theory, which Einstein published in 1915, expanded the theory of special relativity that he had publish

Einstein spent the decade between the two publications determining that particularly massive objects warp

General relativity is physicist Albert Einstein's understanding of how gravity affects the fabric of space-time

The theory, which Einstein published in 1915, expanded the theory of special relativity that he had publish

Einstein spent the decade between the two publications determining that particularly massive objects warp

To understand general relativity, first, let's start with gravity, the force of attraction that two objects exert on

The gravitational force tugging between two bodies depends on how massive each one is and how far apa

Albert Einstein, in his theory of special relativity, determined that the laws of physics are the same for all n

As a result, he found that space and time were interwoven into a single continuum known as space-time. And events that occ

Related: What would happen if the speed of light was much lower?

As he worked out the equations for his general theory of relativity, Einstein realized that massive objects c

What is general relativity?

General relativity is a physical theory about space and time and it has a beautiful mathematical description

What force is explained by general relativity?

General relativity explains gravity, and in this theory, it is not really a "force" anymore. The gravitational fie

When was the theory of general relativity established?

General Relativity was established in 1915 by Albert Einstein and the first solutions to the Einstein equatio

Is general relativity proven?

General relativity has passed all the experimental tests so far, but its applicability is expected to break dow

GRAVIT
ATIONA
L
LENSIN
G
Light
bends
around a
massive
object,
such as a
black
hole,
causing it
to act as a
lens for
the things
that lie
behind it.
Astronom
ers
routinely
use this
method to
study
stars and
galaxies
behind
massive
objects.
The
Einstein
Cross,
a quasar
in
the Peg
asus
constella
tion, acc
ording to
the
Europea
n Space
Agency (
ESA),
and is
an
excellent
example
of
gravitati
onal
lensing.
The
quasar
is seen
as it was

Related:
What Is
Quantum
Gravity?
In cases
like
Einstein'
s cross,
the
different
images
of the
gravitati
onally
lensed
object
appear
simultan
eously,
but that
isn't
always
the
case.
Scientist
s have
also
manage
d to
observe
lensing
ates: first, that the speed of light is constant for all observers; and second, that observers mov
fects the fabric of space-time.

relativity that he had published 10 years earlier. Special relativity argued that space and time are inextricably conne

icularly massive objects warp the fabric of space-time, a distortion that manifests as gravity, according to NASA.

fects the fabric of space-time.

relativity that he had published 10 years earlier. Special relativity argued that space and time are inextricably conne

icularly massive objects warp the fabric of space-time, a distortion that manifests as gravity, according to NASA.

ction that two objects exert on one another. Sir Isaac Newton quantified gravity in the same text in which he formulat

each one is and how far apart the two lie, according to NASA Glenn Research Center. Even as the center of the Ea

physics are the same for all non-accelerating observers, and he showed that the speed of light within a vacuum is the

s space-time. And events that occur at the same time for one observer could occur at different times for another.

alized that massive objects caused a distortion in space-time. Imagine setting a large object in the center of a trampo

tiful mathematical description. According to general relativity, the spacetime is a 4-dimensional object that has to obe

nymore. The gravitational field comes out of the description of general relativity as a result of the curved spacetime.

ished?
utions to the Einstein equation were found already in early 1916.

bility is expected to break down when [the] effects of quantum mechanics (the theory of the very small particles) shou
ond, that observers moving at constant speeds should be subject to the same physical laws.

d time are inextricably connected, but that theory didn't acknowledge the existence of gravity.

vity, according to NASA.

d time are inextricably connected, but that theory didn't acknowledge the existence of gravity.

vity, according to NASA.

me text in which he formulated his three laws of motion, the "Principia."

Even as the center of the Earth is pulling you toward it (keeping you firmly lodged on the ground), your center of ma

of light within a vacuum is the same no matter the speed at which an observer travels, according to Wired.

bject in the center of a trampoline. The object would press down into the fabric, causing it to dimple. If you then attem

nsional object that has to obey an equation, called the Einstein equation, which explains how the matter curves the s

ult of the curved spacetime.

he very small particles) should become dominant.

e same physical laws.

e ground), your center of mass is pulling back at the Earth. But the more massive body barely feels the tug from you

ccording to Wired.

it to dimple. If you then attempt to roll a marble around the edge of the trampoline, the marble would spiral inward to

s how the matter curves the spacetime.

barely feels the tug from you, while with your much smaller mass, you find yourself firmly rooted thanks to that same

marble would spiral inward toward the body, pulled in much the same way that the gravity of a planet pulls at rocks in
y rooted thanks to that same force. Yet Newton's laws assume that gravity is an innate force of an object that can ac

y of a planet pulls at rocks in space.

orce of an object that can act over a distance.