Special and General Relativity (cont.)
This lecture overviews the historical context for Einstein's theories, including the clock synchronization problem and his foundational 1905 papers. It demonstrates how General Relativity encompasses Newton's laws of gravity, illustrating space-time curvature with mass.
Frontiers/Controversies in Astrophysics (ASTR 160)
The lecture begins with a comprehensive overview of the historical conditions under which Einstein developed his theories. Of particular impact were the urgent need at the turn of the 19th century to synchronize clocks around the world; Einstein's position at a patent office; and a series of experiments that he himself carried out. In 1905 Einstein published three papers that are still considered the greatest papers in the field of physics. The lecture then moves to General Relativity and how it encompasses Newton's laws of gravity. A visual demonstration shows how space-time undergoes curvature when mass is introduced. Class ends with a question-and-answer period on a variety of topics in Special Relativity.