general relativity
Gravity bends space
General relativity is Einstein's theory describing gravity not as a force but as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy.
Massive objects bend the fabric of space and time around them, and other objects follow curved paths through this warped geometry.
The theory predicts phenomena like gravitational waves, black holes, and the bending of light around stars.
General relativity replaced Newton's theory of gravity.
Often shortened to GR in technical contexts.
Collapsed star's remnant
- event horizonBlack hole's edge
- singularityPoint where values explode
- wormholeHypothetical spacetime tunnel
- Schwarzschild radiusBlack hole's critical boundary distance
Region where masses attract
- massQuantity of matter
- attractionPull toward something
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- freefallUnimpeded downward motion
orbit · tidal forces · gravitational waves · gravitational lensing · precession · perihelion · weight · inertia
Deviation from flatness
- warpingBecoming bent or twisted
- geodesicShortest curved-surface path
- metricStandard of measurement
- tensorMultilinear algebraic object
manifold · continuum · dimension · causality · event · interval · coordinate system · invariance
Complete system or domain
- big bangLoud explosive noise
- expansionIncrease in scope
- dark energyForce accelerating universal expansion
- dark matterLightless cosmic mass
inflation · redshift · homogeneity · nucleosynthesis · observable universe
Renowned twentieth-century physicist
- 1915Early twentieth century
- unified field theorySingle framework combining all forces
- PrincetonIvy League university
- Nobel PrizeHighest academic honor
Joint deviation measure
- Christoffel symbols
- linearizationApproximating nonlinear with linear
black hole
Collapsed star's remnant
- event horizonBlack hole's edge
- singularityPoint where values explode
- wormholeHypothetical spacetime tunnel
Schwarzschild radius · gravitational collapse · spaghettification · white hole
gravitational field
Region where masses attract
- massQuantity of matter
- attractionPull toward something
- accelerationRate velocity changes
freefall · orbit · tidal forces · gravitational waves · gravitational lensing · precession · perihelion · weight · inertia · time dilation
curvature
Deviation from flatness
tensor · manifold · continuum · dimension · causality · event · interval · coordinate system · invariance · chronology
universe
Complete system or domain
- big bangLoud explosive noise
- expansionIncrease in scope
- dark energyForce accelerating universal expansion
dark matter · inflation · redshift · homogeneity · nucleosynthesis · observable universe
Albert Einstein
Renowned twentieth-century physicist
- 1915Early twentieth century
- unified field theorySingle framework combining all forces
- PrincetonIvy League university
covariance
Joint deviation measure
- Christoffel symbols
- linearizationApproximating nonlinear with linear
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
- discoveriesbreakthrough, scientific discovery, finding, uncovering, detection
- EinsteinE=mc2, physics, genius, Princeton, Nobel Prize
- Einstein's theoriesE=mc2, time dilation, spacetime, unified field theory
- scientific theoriesatomic theory, evolution, big bang theory, quantum theory, string theory
- relativityspacetime, time dilation, space-time, reference frame, E=mc2
general relativityNewtonian mechanics
Theory of motion and force
classical mechanics · quantum mechanics · Newton's laws · Newtonian physics · quantum gravity
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