1. Scientific Theories and Laws
2. The First Decade (1936-1946)
4. The Second Decade (1946-1956)
6. The Third Decade (1956-1966)
8. The Fourth Decade (1966-1976)
10. The Fifth Decade (1976-1986)
12. The Sixth Decade (1986-1996)
14. The Seventh Decade (1996-2006)
15. The Theory of More than Everything
16. The Eighth Decade (2006-2016)
18. The Ninth Decade (2016-2026)
Appendix A Paintings
Appendix B TTOMTE and a Steady State Universe
Appendix C Musical Compositions
Chapter 0-Page 0
In 1919, scientists tested this curvature by waiting for a total eclipse of the sun. They saw the stars at the edge of the sun in a different position from where they normally were seen by the amount predicted by Einstein. This result convinced almost everyone of the truth of General Relativity because the space around the sun was curved. Later, when scientists realized how hard it was to be accurate in this experiment, this evidence was a bit weak.
Einstein predicted another thing from the formulas: Time will slow down because of gravity, and he was right; score another one for Einstein. It's hard to believe, but time runs slower at the bottom of a tall tower than it does at the top. In order to have our satellite clocks match with Earth time, they have to run slower up there than our clocks do down here; you will age slower on Earth than on a satellite. It's by a teeny amount, so it's not worth taking a ground-level apartment.
Another test has found the frequency of light from the sun to drop a bit because of the sun's space-time distortion; time runs slower on the sun.
You may have some of the same problems I have with Relativity. Let's share some ideas in order to delay the next session with our therapists. We won't, of course, question any of the mathematical parts of Relativity, but there's nothing to stop you and I from looking at some of the interpretations again. Up to now, I've given you the accepted description of Relativity. It's time to get creative.
INERTIA AND GRAVITY --- Are they the very same thing as Einstein says? The force of gravity surrounds a heavy object "pulling" things in, and inertia doesn't want to get pulled.
Chapter 0-Page 0