The theory of relativity is a simple language. The theory of relativity of Einstein

STO, TOE - these abbreviations hide the familiar to almost everyone the term "theory of relativity." In a simple language, you can explain everything, even the saying of a genius, so do not despair if you do not remember the school physics course, because in fact everything is much easier than it seems.

The origin of the theory

So, let's start the course "Theory of Relativity for Dummies". Albert Einstein published his work in 1905, and it aroused resonance among scientists. This theory almost completely overlapped many gaps and inconsistencies in the physics of the last century, but, in addition, overturned the notion of space and time. Many of Einstein's statements were difficult for contemporaries to believe, but experiments and studies only confirmed the words of the great scientist.

Einstein's theory of relativity explained in simple language what people had been fighting for centuries. It can be called the basis of all modern physics. However, before continuing the conversation about the theory of relativity, one should clarify the question of terms. Surely many people, reading the popular science articles, faced with two abbreviations: SRT and GTR. In fact, they mean somewhat different concepts. The first is a special theory of relativity, and the second is deciphered as the "general theory of relativity."

Just about the complex

SRT is an older theory, which later became part of the OTO. In it, only physical processes for objects moving at uniform speed can be considered. The general theory can describe what happens to accelerating objects, and also explain why there are particles of gravitons and gravity.

If it is necessary to describe the motion and laws of mechanics, as well as the relationship between space and time when approaching the speed of light - this can be done by a special theory of relativity. In simple words, you can explain this: for example, friends from the future gave you a spacecraft that can fly at high speed. On the nose of the spacecraft is a cannon, capable of shooting with photons everything that comes in front.

When a shot is fired, then relative to the ship these particles fly with the speed of light, but, logically, the stationary observer must see the sum of two speeds (the photons themselves and the ship). But nothing of the kind. The observer will see photons moving at a speed of 300,000 m / s, as if the speed of the ship was zero.

The thing is that no matter how fast the object moves, the speed of light for it is a constant value.

This statement is the main striking logical conclusions such as slowing down and distorting time, depending on the mass and speed of the object. This is the basis of many science fiction films and serials.

General theory of relativity

In a simpler language, one can also explain a more general relativity. To begin with, we should take into account the fact that our space is four-dimensional. Time and space are united in such an "object" as a "space-time continuum". In our space there are four axes of coordinates: x, y, z and t.

But people can not directly perceive four dimensions, just as a hypothetical flat person living in a two-dimensional world is not able to look up. In fact, our world is only a projection of four-dimensional space into three-dimensional space.

An interesting fact is that, according to the general theory of relativity, bodies do not change during motion. The objects of the four-dimensional world are in fact always immutable, and when moving only their projections change, which we perceive as a distortion of time, a reduction or increase in size, and so on.

Experiment with an elevator

About the theory of relativity in plain language can be told with the help of a small thought experiment. Imagine that you are in an elevator. The cab began to move, and you were in a state of weightlessness. What happened? The reasons can be two: either the elevator is in space, or is in free fall under the influence of the planet's gravity. The most interesting thing is that you can not find out the cause of weightlessness, if there is no possibility to look out from the elevator booth, that is, both processes look the same.

Perhaps, after conducting a similar thought experiment, Albert Einstein came to the conclusion that if these two situations are indistinguishable from each other, then, in fact, the body under the influence of gravity does not accelerate, this uniform movement that curves under the influence of a massive body (in this case the planet ). Thus, accelerated motion is only a projection of uniform motion into three-dimensional space.

A good example

Another good example on the topic "Theory of Relativity for Dummies." It is not entirely correct, but very simple and intuitive. If an object is placed on a stretched fabric, it forms a "deflection", a "funnel". All smaller bodies will have to distort their trajectory according to the new bend of space, and if the body has little energy, it generally can not overcome this funnel. However, from the point of view of the moving object itself, the trajectory remains straight, they do not feel the bending of space.

Gravity "lowered in rank"

With the advent of the general theory of relativity, gravity ceased to be a force and is now satisfied with the position of a simple consequence of the curvature of time and space. The general relativity may seem fantastic, but it is a working version and is confirmed by experiments.

A lot of seemingly incredible things in our world can be explained by the theory of relativity. In a simple language, such things are called consequences of general relativity. For example, the rays of light, flying at close range from massive bodies, are warped. Moreover, many objects from distant cosmos are hidden one after another, but due to the fact that the rays of light go around other bodies, seemingly invisible objects are accessible to our gaze (more precisely, the telescope's gaze). It's like looking through walls.

The more gravity, the slower the time on the surface of the object. This applies not only to massive bodies like neutron stars or black holes. The effect of slowing down time can be observed even on Earth. For example, instruments for satellite navigation are equipped with the finest atomic clocks. They are in the orbit of our planet, and the time there ticks a little faster. Hundredths of a second in a day will add up to a figure that will give up to 10 km of error in calculating the route on Earth. The theory of relativity makes it possible to calculate this error.

In a simple language one can put it this way: OTO underlies many modern technologies, and thanks to Einstein we can easily find a pizzeria and a library in an unfamiliar area.