Consider the following phenomena:
- Light is affected by gravity.
- The Universe is constantly expanding.
- Matter warps its surrounding space-time.
Which of the above is/are the prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in the media?
- 1 and 2 only
- 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct
- General relativity predicted many phenomena years before they were observed, including black holes, gravitational waves, gravitational lensing, the expansion of the universe, and the different rates clocks run in a gravitational field. The theory explains that light bends around massive objects due to the curvature of spacetime, a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. This effect has been observed and confirmed in various astronomical studies.
Image Source: NASA (A diagram showing how the curvature of spacetime leads to gravitational lensing)
Statement 2 is correct
- The idea that the universe had a beginning was first suggested by the general theory of relativity. Einstein’s equations, which describe the structure of space and time, suggested that the universe should not be static, but that it ought to be expanding.
Statement 3 is correct
- This is a fundamental aspect of general relativity. The theory posits that mass and energy can curve spacetime, influencing the motion of objects within that curved space.
Image Source: Caltech (In Einstein’s view of the world, gravity is the curvature of spacetime caused by massive objects.)
