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The theory of relativity is one of the most important theories in physics today. If it is proved wrong, the way we view the earth, gravity and time will drastically change. The theory of relativity was developed by American physicist Albert Einstein in 1905. Originally, in 1905, Einstein developed what is known as the special theory of relativity and in 1915 developed the general theory of relativity. Einstein built off of Galileo who earlier came up with the principle of relativity. The special theory of relativity says that the speed of light is constant to all observers, and nothing has an effect on it. The general theory of relativity says that everything influences one another - dealing with gravitational fields. The theory of relativity basically deals with 2 main points: There is no absolute frame of reference because everything moves with respect to each other and space and time are not constant. For example, if car A stood at rest and car B drove by it at 60mph who is to say that the car B wasn't at rest and car A was going 60. Also space and time are not constant: If you are sitting on a train and you shine a light onto a mirror, the light will bounce back up at you. But if you are watching that train go by you see the light reflect diagonally. Another example is the twin paradox. If both twins are 6 and you send one 25 light years away at 99.99% the speed of light. The trip takes 50 years. When the twins meet up again, the one on earth is now 56. The other is just 6 and a half (NOVA). This links Einstein's famous equation of E=mc^2 which relates mass, energy and the speed of light.
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^Keck Observatory on top of Mauna Kea. Used to determine speed of light
RELATIVITY AND ITS EFFECT ON PHYSICS (mathematically) The theory of relativity is what the majority of modern day physics is based upon. Many of our equations use the same basic assumption that gravity acts equally upon all objects. This assumption can be made thanks to relativity. If the theory of relativity were disproved we would have to call into question the entire notion of gravity and whether or not it is an actual force. Another example is a ship is at rest and two people are inside it throwing a ball. When one person throws the ball, the other person can catch it without having to change their direction. Then the ship starts to move a constant velocity. Still the occupants throw the ball back and forth without having to change direction to catch it. If there were no windows in the cabin, the people might not even know that the ship is moving (Dine). This can be explained thanks the theory of relativity and reference frames. If the theory of relativity were suddenly disproven, then there would be no explanation for that phenomena. Everything is based off of the theory of relativity so if it is false, we must question everything that has leaned upon the theory in the past. The entire way of physics could be uprooted.

RELATIVITY AND ITS EFFECT ON THE UNIVERSE Relativity explains what many thought was unexplainable. If explains the existence of black holes in the universe. It says that massive objects gradually pull things toward it and slow down time. They bend light. Well a very very massive object can pull almost everything towards it and bend light so drastically that the light becomes lost. You would never be able to see someone being sucked into a black hole because time would be too slow. You would just see them freeze and gradually fade (Curious About Astronomy?). Before the theory of relativity was discovered, black holes could not be explained and were thought to be fictional. Now that we can see them on telescopes we know they are real and relativity helps to justify that. If relativity didn't exist, we would have masses in the universe that made matter seemingly disappear and absorb all light and we would have no explanation. If relativity was disproved, there would be another gaping hole of mystery called a black hole, and mystery generates fear, fear of the unknown. RELATIVITY AND ITS EFFECT ON GRAVITY People believed before the theory of relativity that gravity was a force. They couldn't understand why, no matter the weight of an object, gravity had the same effect on all objects. The problem was that gravity isn't a force. Einstein said that gravity is caused by the earth. The earth creates a curvature in space because of its size and sheer mass and an object is following a straight line if it dips down into the bowl created which is called gravity. Gravity doesn't pull an object but rather the earth is just pushing up on an object as the object follows the dip (Curious About Astronomy?). This could not be explained without the theory of relativity and there would still be question marks in everybody's heads as to why gravity does not affect different objects differently. There would be a hole in the explanation there just like there was before Einstein. If relativity was disproved, gravity might be doubted because of that obvious flaw. That would uproot physics as a science consequently because a majority of physics equations use the assumption that gravity on the earth is -9.8m/s^2.

The theory of relativity was one of the most influential theories ever to surface. It is what we base most of physics on today. If it were to be rejected, the science community would be lost. So much of our work is based upon that theory, and the rejection would void all of that work. This could cause a lot of negative impacts in this age of scientific revolution because it would be such a back track and we would lose so much time to catch back up. Many things would be unexplained without this theory and life would not make as much sense. This theory has refined our scientific minds and helped to expand the field of astronomy immensely.
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Works Cited Bibliography: "Curious About Astronomy?" __Cornell.edu__. 21 March 2008. 27 Jan 2009 .
 * -This site is a very credible site because it is sponsored by Cornell University, a prestige Ivy Leage University. It gives clear examples of what is occurring with relativity and also provides extra links that further explain the theory. It even has the option of posting questions so that the people associated with Cornell can respond and further help the reader understand. Also provided a picture of many galaxies.**

Dine, Michael. "Relativity." World Book Online Reference Center. 2004. World Book, Inc. 27 Jan 2009 http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar464240.
 * - This site is very reliable because it is written by a professor of physics with a Ph. D and it is from NASA as well. The information is well organized and easy to understand while still covering the entirety of basic relativity with a good background. It splits the theory into Special and General Relativity and provides clear examples of each that make the topic more approachable.**

"NOVA | Einstein's Big Idea | Time Traveler | PBS." __PBS__. 29 Jan. 2009 .
 * -This site has very good explanations of the theory but what really makes it stand out is its animated video that demonstrates the concepts of relativity. It helps the reader because it is much easier to visualize with the help of an actual visual aid.**

Pictures:

"Q&A on String Theory" Starwithabang.com. 14 April 2008. 27 Jan 2009 .
 * -This site provided a great visual of what gravity really does according to the theory of relativity.**

Platt, Jane. "NASA - Home ." __NASA - Home__. 2 Feb. 2009 .
 * -Provided a good picture of the Keck Observatory on the top of Mauna Kea.**

Karsh, Yousuf. "Hellenica, Greece and Cyprus, Michael Lahanas." __Hellenica, Greece and Cyprus, Michael Lahanas__. 2 Feb. 2009 .
 * -Provided picture of Albert Einstein**