How science finally caught up with Einstein’s prediction of gravitational waves

How science finally caught up with Einstein’s prediction of gravitational waves

 

In 1916, shortly after publishing his theory of general relativity, Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves – warps in space-time caused by accelerating matter that ripples outward at the speed of light. However, he believed these ripples would be so slight as to be undetectable, before eventually abandoning the concept altogether. But following decades of scientific developments suggesting their existence, as well as technological innovations making their detection possible, in 2015 a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the California Institute of Technology recorded humanity’s first direct observation of the phenomena.

How science finally caught up with Einstein’s prediction of gravitational waves

 

In 1916, shortly after publishing his theory of general relativity, Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves – warps in space-time caused by accelerating matter that ripples outward at the speed of light. However, he believed these ripples would be so slight as to be undetectable, before eventually abandoning the concept altogether. But following decades of scientific developments suggesting their existence, as well as technological innovations making their detection possible, in 2015 a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the California Institute of Technology recorded humanity’s first direct observation of the phenomena.

Demo of Einstein’s Principle of Equivalence

Demo of Einstein’s Principle of Equivalence

A spring inside long tube is attached to a small weight hanging over the lip of the funnel. When the tube is allowed to fall freely, gravity vanishes in the falling reference frame—and the spring pulls the weight over the funnel’s lip into the funnel. The accelerating frame erased gravity momentarily, demonstrating the equivalence of acceleration and gravitation… the key insight of General Relativity! StephenRosen@gmail.com

A SPRING INSIDE LONG TUBE is attached to a small weight hanging over the lip of the funnel. When the tube is allowed to fall freely, gravity vanishes in the falling reference frame—and the spring pulls the weight over the funnel’s lip into the funnel. The accelerating frame erased gravity momentarily, demonstrating the equivalence of acceleration and gravitation… the key insight of General Relativity! StephenRosen@gmail.com