
Concept explainers
How does the equivalence principle lead us to suspect that spacetime might be curved?

The method by which the equivalence principle leads us to suspect that space time might be curved.
Answer to Problem 1E
The method by which the equivalence principle leads us to suspect that space time might be curved is explained with the help of example given below.
Explanation of Solution
Equivalence principle states that, the condition of free fall is equivalent to the condition of zero gravity. For example, an astronomer in a windowless spacecraft will not be able to differentiate between the situations when she is freely falling under the influence of gravity of some other planet or star or when she is far away from any gravitational influence of any star or planet in space.
According to general theory of relativity by Einstein; “Gravity is not a force but it is a result of the curvature of space-time caused by the uneven distribution of mass”. The fabric of space time is curved around a mass and as a result of this; a force is caused which is termed as gravitational force.
To understand how the equivalence principle lead to conclusion that space time might be curved one must take the example given below.
Consider a spacecraft in which no gravitational force is acting when it is moving in a space. When an astronaut shine a beam of light from one end of spacecraft towards the other end, due to the property of light that it travels in a straight line, beam of light hits another end at the point which is exactly in front of it.
Consider a spacecraft when it is in gravitational attraction of some other planet (Earth) and it falls freely, as the light travels in a straight line,it should hit the same point as before but the light follows the path of the spacecraft, if the spacecraft deflected, then light is alsodeflected. As the result is different from expected, the light travels with the spacecraft and it hits the different point as before.
This result gave the idea of general theory of relativity. According to itlight bends around the mass, but actually it travels in a straight line. To conclude both these facts Einstein proposed theory of relativity in which a mass bends the space time fabric
Conclusion:
Thus, the method by which the equivalence principle leads us to suspect that space time might be curved is explained with the help of example given below.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 24 Solutions
Astronomy
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Chemistry: Structure and Properties (2nd Edition)
Chemistry (7th Edition)
College Physics: A Strategic Approach (3rd Edition)
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach, Vol. 1 (Chs 1-21) (4th Edition)
Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry (13th Edition)
Human Anatomy & Physiology (2nd Edition)
- no AI, pleasearrow_forwardSketch the resulting complex wave form, and then say whether it is a periodic or aperiodic wave.arrow_forwardDuring a concentric loading of the quadriceps muscle in the upper leg, an athlete extends his lower leg from a vertical position (see figure (a)) to a fully extended horizontal position (see figure (b)) at a constant angular speed of 45.0° per second. Two of the four quadriceps muscles, the vastis intermedius and the rectus femoris, terminate at the patellar tendon which is attached to the top of the tibia in the lower leg. The distance from the point of attachment of the patellar tendon to the rotation axis of the tibia relative to the femur is 4.10 cm in this athlete. a b (a) The two quadriceps muscles can exert a maximum force of 225 N through the patellar tendon. This force is applied at an angle of 25.0° to the section of the tibia between the attachment point and the rotation axis. What is the torque (in N⚫ m) exerted by the muscle on the lower leg during this motion? (Enter the magnitude.) N⚫ m (b) What is the power (in W) generated by the athlete during the motion? W (c)…arrow_forward
- = A hanging weight, with a mass of m₁ = 0.365 kg, is attached by a rope to a block with mass m₂ 0.835 kg as shown in the figure below. The rope goes over a pulley with a mass of M = 0.350 kg. The pulley can be modeled as a hollow cylinder with an inner radius of R₁ = 0.0200 m, and an outer radius of R2 = 0.0300 m; the mass of the spokes is negligible. As the weight falls, the block slides on the table, and the coefficient of kinetic friction between the block and the table is μk = 0.250. At the instant shown, the block is moving with a velocity of v; = 0.820 m/s toward the pulley. Assume that the pulley is free to spin without friction, that the rope does not stretch and does not slip on the pulley, and that the mass of the rope is negligible. mq R₂ R₁ mi (a) Using energy methods, find the speed of the block (in m/s) after it has moved a distance of 0.700 m away from the initial position shown. m/s (b) What is the angular speed of the pulley (in rad/s) after the block has moved this…arrow_forwardno AI, pleasearrow_forwardno AI, pleasearrow_forward
- no AI, pleasearrow_forwardTwo astronauts, each having a mass of 95.5 kg, are connected by a 10.0-m rope of negligible mass. They are isolated in space, moving in circles around the point halfway between them at a speed of 4.60 m/s. Treating the astronauts as particles, calculate each of the following. CG × d (a) the magnitude of the angular momentum of the system kg m2/s (b) the rotational energy of the system KJ By pulling on the rope, the astronauts shorten the distance between them to 5.00 m. (c) What is the new angular momentum of the system? kg m2/s (d) What are their new speeds? m/s (e) What is the new rotational energy of the system? KJ (f) How much work is done by the astronauts in shortening the rope? KJarrow_forwardA uniform horizontal disk of radius 5.50 m turns without friction at w = 2.55 rev/s on a vertical axis through its center, as in the figure below. A feedback mechanism senses the angular speed of the disk, and a drive motor at A ensures that the angular speed remain constant while a m = 1.20 kg block on top of the disk slides outward in a radial slot. The block starts at the center of the disk at time t = 0 and moves outward with constant speed v = 1.25 cm/s relative to the disk until it reaches the edge at t = 360 s. The sliding block experiences no friction. Its motion is constrained to have constant radial speed by a brake at B, producing tension in a light string tied to the block. (a) Find the torque as a function of time that the drive motor must provide while the block is sliding. Hint: The torque is given by t = 2mrvw. t N.m (b) Find the value of this torque at t = 360 s, just before the sliding block finishes its motion. N.m (c) Find the power which the drive motor must…arrow_forward
- (a) A planet is in an elliptical orbit around a distant star. At its closest approach, the planet is 0.670 AU from the star and has a speed of 54.0 km/s. When the planet is at its farthest distance from the star of 36.0 AU, what is its speed (in km/s)? (1 AU is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun and is equal to 1.496 × 1011 m. You may assume that other planets and smaller objects in the star system exert negligible forces on the planet.) km/s (b) What If? A comet is in a highly elliptical orbit around the same star. The comet's greatest distance from the star is 25,700 times larger than its closest distance to the star. The comet's speed at its greatest distance is 2.40 x 10-2 km/s. What is the speed (in km/s) of the comet at its closest approach? km/sarrow_forwardYou are attending a county fair with your friend from your physics class. While walking around the fairgrounds, you discover a new game of skill. A thin rod of mass M = 0.505 kg and length = 2.70 m hangs from a friction-free pivot at its upper end as shown in the figure. Pivot Velcro M Incoming Velcro-covered ball m The front surface of the rod is covered with Velcro. You are to throw a Velcro-covered ball of mass m = 1.25 kg at the rod in an attempt to make it swing backward and rotate all the way across the top. The ball must stick to the rod at all times after striking it. If you cause the rod to rotate over the top position (that is, rotate 180° opposite of its starting position), you win a stuffed animal. Your friend volunteers to try his luck. He feels that the most torque would be applied to the rod by striking it at its lowest end. While he prepares to aim at the lowest point on the rod, you calculate how fast he must throw the ball to win the stuffed animal with this…arrow_forward56 is not the correct answer!arrow_forward
- AstronomyPhysicsISBN:9781938168284Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. WolffPublisher:OpenStaxFoundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399920Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage LearningStars and Galaxies (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399944Author:Michael A. SeedsPublisher:Cengage Learning
- University Physics Volume 1PhysicsISBN:9781938168277Author:William Moebs, Samuel J. Ling, Jeff SannyPublisher:OpenStax - Rice UniversityPhysics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations...PhysicsISBN:9781133939146Author:Katz, Debora M.Publisher:Cengage Learning





