Question

Einstein's Theory of General Relativity can be considered a "good theory."

a) What did this theory explain that other theories could also explain?

b) What did this theory explain that other theories could not explain?

c) What did this theory predict that nobody had expected, but which were found experimentally?

Answer 1

(a) General relativity explain how planets moves around a star. It says that star curves ( spacetime around it on which planet moves). This was also explained by Newtonian theory that star attract planet by force of gravity and for balancing this force planet moves around star. Centripetal force of planet balance gravity and hence planets are stable in there orbit.

(b) Other theory cann't explain why light bent near heavy object (gravitational lensing phenomenon). Einstein relativity explained this by considering that energy is also form of mass and hence energy attracted by gravity (curved spacetime) of heavy object.

(c) General relativity predict about gravitational wave which is generated by heavy object in fabric of spacetime. This was recently detected experiment at LIGO ( Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory).

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