rkhan+wiki

=Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity= = = = =

Although the theory of relativity has not directly impacted society, if it is disproved, our concepts and ideas about the science world will drastically change.
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__**Background:**__ When Albert Einstein formulated the theory of relativity, he probably had no idea what controversy would erupt. Many people have argued for years whether the theory is relevant or not. However, based on today's current research, most scientists seem to agree with his theory that matter exists in the fourth dimension. Albert Einstein first developed this theory in the early twentieth century, but it was not until November of 1919 that his theory became an overnight sensation. A solar eclipse showed that light had bent around the sun—but how did that prove his theory? Einstein’s theory explained why the light acted in this manner during that fateful eclipse. According to Einstein, every object in the universe puts its own dent into the continuum of gravity, which therefore causes light to bend when traveling around the object.

__**Relativity and other phenomena**__ Many other phenomena that happen in space and on earth are explained by the theory of relativity. One of these things is how the time appears to move in a black hole. A black hole is a region of space with such intense gravitational attraction that nothing, not even light, can escape from it. Einstein theorized that a person traveling through a black hole would appear stationary if being watched from earth. To him, it was all relative to position and velocity. According to NOVA science, if it had not been for Einstein's way of thinking, it might have been several more decades before today's physicists had figured out key mathematical concepts of general relativity. In today's society, technology is accelerating at an astonishing rate. "Much of the speed of current research can in part be attributed to Einstein and his theory of relativity," says physicist and professor Alan Lightman. Time dilation is a complicated concept that Einstein tried to explain in his theory. Whenever a particularly large mass has disturbed the gravity continuum, it has the ability to warp objects around it. For example, the seconds on a clock would tick slower and the angles on a triangle would no longer add up to 180 degrees. The speed time appears to move at is relative to the velocity of the person. If they happened to be moving at the speed of light, time would appear to move slowly.

__**Relativity and society:**__ While the theory of relativity affected scientific aspects of our society, it has also impacted our society morally. As soon as Einstein released his theory, critics argued that the theory of relativity could be applied in a moral standpoint. According to them, if you applied this view to acts such as cannibalism, it would make it ok because if you looked at this relatively from a cannibalist’s point of view, it would be almost normal. This theory also caused a stir in the religious world. Priests somehow made a connection between one of Einstein’s points and said it proved creationism. In response to these moral dilemmas, Einstein said, “Relativity applies to physics, not morals.” It is obvious that our world is advancing technologically and scientifically with terrific speed, with much more to come. Einstein's theory is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to discovering new things about our world. His theory has made it easier for us to understand principles of gravity, mathematics, and physics. In conclusion, the theory of relativity may be a difficult concept to understand, but it is the basis of every scientific theory today and if it were disproved, would result in drastic consequences.


 * Works Cited:**

-//-//"A Chapel Converted Into a Church Apartment." __Freshome__. 2/4/09.  //This site provided the picture of the church//

//-//"General Relativity." __ExpoScience__. 2/2/09.  //This site was extremely helpful in understanding different concepts and parts of the theory of relativity. The author gives short, informative blurbs on every aspect of the theory.//

-Johnson, Alex. "Nutty Professor or One Cool Dude?" __MSNBC__. 2/5/09  //This site provided the picture of Einstein//

- Kahn, Bob. "A Day In the Life of Gravity Probe B." __Stanford News Service.__ 2/3/09  //This site provided the picture demonstration of dents in the gravitational dimension//

//- Lightman, Alan. "Relativity and the Cosmos." __NOVA Science__. 2/1/09 < http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/relativity/> // //This site provided accurate, helpful information on Einstein and his process in discovering his theory of relativity. The author is a well respected physicist and professor at MIT, and has backed up his information with credentials. The material is also easy to understand.//

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