Table of Contents
At what scale does relativity break down?
= k = 1. The Planck length, and associated Planck time, defines the scale at which the currently accepted theory of gravity fails. On this scale, the entire geometry of spacetime as predicted by general relativity breaks down.
Where does general relativity break down?
Curvature strong enough to cause general relativity to break down, we believe, exists only in the center of black holes and close by the Big Bang. The regime where quantum gravity becomes relevant should also be reached in particle collisions at extremely high center-of-mass energy.
Does general relativity work small scales?
Einstein’s theory of gravity, general relativity, is known to work well on scales smaller than an individual galaxy. But general relativity remains largely untested on larger length scales.
How does general relativity relate to special relativity?
General relativity generalizes special relativity and refines Newton’s law of universal gravitation, providing a unified description of gravity as a geometric property of space and time or four-dimensional spacetime.
Are the predictions of general relativity in relation to classical physics?
The predictions of general relativity in relation to classical physics have been confirmed in all observations and experiments to date. Although general relativity is not the only relativistic theory of gravity, it is the simplest theory that is consistent with experimental data.
Is general relativity better than Newtonian gravity?
During that period, general relativity remained something of a curiosity among physical theories. It was clearly superior to Newtonian gravity, being consistent with special relativity and accounting for several effects unexplained by the Newtonian theory.
Why is general relativity considered the most beautiful theory?
In addition, general relativity is the basis of current cosmological models of a consistently expanding universe. Widely acknowledged as a theory of extraordinary beauty, general relativity has often been described as the most beautiful of all existing physical theories.