NicoleC

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 * Recent Research on the Theory of Relativity


 * Although most of the world accepts Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity for what it is, many scientists have recently tried to prove or disprove his theory based on experiments and recent technology. **

** Background Information** Albert Einstein introduced the world to the Theory of Relativity, which consists of two individual theories, the Special Theory of Relativity and the General Theory of Relativity. The Special Theory explains the effects straight-line, constant-velocity motion has on the mass and size of an object and on the passage of time. While on the other hand, the General Theory explains the effects curved or accelerated motion has on mass, size, and time. Although these theories are extremely hard to grasp, scientists have used them to mathematically explain the forces in the universe, which is referred to the "Theory of Everything." Einstein wasn’t the first physicist to come up with the idea of relativity; other astronomers and scientists had been working on the theory for years, such as Galileo and Newton. In Einstein’s theory, he stated that the speed at which time happens the variable that is able to fluctuate in relativity and that space, time, and motion can be categorized together because they all act on each other.

**Albert Einstein introduced the Theory of Relativity**  **http://www.mlahanas.de/** **Recent Research** X-ray astronomy, used by NASA, is utilized to test Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity, more specifically to specify general relativity. X-ray Astronomy traces the way light bends around a neutron star to detect the effects of a black hole tugging on space itself (X-ray). A black hole and neutron star are both sources of extreme gravity; therefore, it would be easiest to prove or disprove Einstein's theory with a black hole or neutron star. X-ray telescopes are being used for this experiment for two main reasons. First, the power exerted by matter crashing on a neutron star or falling into a black hole shines predominantly in the X-rays where gravity is most present (X-ray). Also, these X-rays can break through the layers of dust and gas surrounding the neutron stars and black holes, which restricts most other forms of radiation (X-ray). Although X-ray astronomy has come a long way in the forty years that it existed, scientists have not been able to completely test General Relativity. In the future, NASA plans to develop new technology and tests to move closer to a black hole or neutron star (X-ray). **  A next generation X-ray astronomy satellite   ** **   proposed   **       **   to launch in 2010   ** **s ** **pacewire.esa.int ** Michael Murphy, of the Institute of Astronomy at Cambridge University, was among the astronomers that met at Warwick  University in England in April of 2005 to state that Einstein's Theory of Relativity could have been wrong. Murphy and his team of astronomers experimented the fact that the speed of light is always the same measurement. “The findings suggest that there is a more fundamental theory of the way that light and matter interact; and that special relativity, at its foundation, is actually wrong,” states Murphy (Wrong). Murphy and his team of scientists analyzed flickering light from the far-distant celestial objects called quasars. This allowed the astronomers to see the laws of the universe at the beginning of its time. From the Keck telescope in Hawaii, observations suggest that the way in which certain wavelengths are absorbed has changed (Wrong). This means that the fine structure constant, which measures the strength of electromagnetic forces that hold atoms together, has changed by about 0.001 percent since the Big Bang (Wrong). Since the speed of light depends on the fine structure constant, results suggest that the speed of light must have slightly changed too. If the speed of light changes with time, many fundamental theories of science would have to be altered to fit the new results. ** This is the Keck Telescope in Hawaii. It was used to determine if the speed of light changes. **   [|**http://www.nasa.gov/**]

In April of 2005, Alan Kostelecky, a theoretical physics professor, presented his latest research on Einstein's Theory of Relativity to the American Physical Society. He stated that light is a result of small violations in the Theory of Relativity. In Einstein’s publication of “On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies,” Einstein explains the interaction of time, distance, mass, and energy where gravity does not exist.Kostelecky has spent the last 20 years of his life researching Theory of Relativity and trying to find its flaws. However, if we were to use today’s technology to test Einstein’s theory, it would require more energy that humanity is able to produce at this point (Theory). Kostelecky realized that it was impossible to tangibly test the theory with ways that current physicists were trying to figure out. In Kostelecky’s experiment, he used the "Standard Model Extension" to test Einstein's theory. The Standard Model Extension is a theoretical framework that combined existing theories, including general relativity (Theory). So far, the Standard Model Extension has not given enough evidence to disprove the Theory of Relativity (Theory). Although his experiments did not completely disprove the Theory of Relativity, he plans to keep attempting to find Einstein's Theory's flaw. ** A neutron star is used by astronomers to test Einstein's Theory because it is a great source of gravity. http://www.science.psu.edu/ ** ** Conclusion ** Einstein’s Theory of Relativity was a scientific exploration way beyond his time. It explained things that today’s greatest scientists cannot explain. However, recent research is coming closer and closer to not proving the Theory of Relativity completely wrong, but adjusting it so that it is 100% correct. If the Theory of Relativity is disproved in any way, many other formulas and basic laws of physics will have to be adjusted as well because they were formed based on Einstein’s theory. “It could turn out that special relativity is a very good approximation but it’s missing a little bit,” says Murphy. “That little bit may be the doorknob to a whole new universe and a whole new set of fundamental laws.” (Wrong)


 * __Works Cited__ **

"How Einstein may have got the theory of relativity wrong." __Latest Articles__. 26 Jan. 2009 . This article described how Einstein may have made a mistake in his Theory of Relativity. The team of astronomers proposed that the speed of light changes over an extremely long period of time. It was helpful because it was written to help non-physicists better understand the current debate over Einstein's theory. "X-ray Astronomy Puts Einstein to the Test."__Imagine The Universe! Home Page__. 26 Jan. 2009 <[|http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/mysteries_12/relativity.html] >.  This website is intended for anyone 14 years or older and who is interested in our universe. The article I used was about how X-ray Astronomy is being used to test Einstein's Theory.  Zennie, Michael. "Theory of relativity challenged by scientists, IU physics professor's latest research project." __ Indiana Daily Student __. 26 Apr. 2005. 26 Jan. 2009 <__www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?ID=41212&comview=1__ >. This website provides an article about research done in 2005, suggesting flaws in Einstein's Theory of Relativity. This article was useful because it fit perfectly with the prompt.