mattg

** Einstein's Theory of Relativity ** Albert Einstein became a hero when a solar eclipse proved his theory of General Relativity. At the time he was 40 years old and it was the first new major theory in 250 years (Lightman). Einsteins first theory of space and time that proposed distance and time are not absolute, was called Special Relativity. For general relativity, the main idea is the equivalence principle. It states that "Gravity pulling in one direction is completely equivalent to an acceleration in the opposite direction" (Lightman). General Relativity also states that gravity and motion influence intervals of time and space. Relativity evaluated significant constants, like mass and length, and saw them to be variable (Relativity). Einsteins Theory of Relativity has influenced our society by suggesting matter causes space to curve, giving us the fourth dimension, and leading to the creation of the nuclear bomb and nuclear power.

A very important idea that Einstein gave us was the idea that matter causes space to curve. Lets pretend that space is a flat surface. Now put a planet on our surface. The planet causes our surface to sink in, or curve. That curve is what we know as gravity (Time). The larger object sitting in the middle of the curve would cause smaller ones to be attracted to it because the smaller ones roll towards it. This curvature causes the "gravitational time dilation effect," which cannot be seen in normal circumstances (Time). One of the few exceptions is the black hole. If someone were looking from a distance, an object falling into a black hole would seem like it never reached it. This is because of time dilation, which causes time to advance a lot slower to the viewer, even though the object would quickly be terminated by the black hole (Time).

Even though it might not be realized, time is a dimension, making it the fourth. Objects can travel through it just like they travel through the third dimension, also known as space (Time). To show this, you can simply add a z axis to the standard x and y axis. A person walking forward would be traveling through the three dimensions of space, and the fourth would be his progression through time (Time). With this in mind, it shows that as humans are going through the fourth dimension, they are actually going through time. This is means time travel is possible, but only in one direction (Time). The direction of time remains constant and singular, even though we can change our outlook on time based on distance, gravitational dilation, or speed (Time).

      As he worked on his theory more, some of Einstein's changes   resulted in his famous E = mc^2 equation. The equation basically states t  hat matter and energy are interchangeable (Time). Even though Einstein was not responsible for making the first nuclear bomb, his equation made a lot of it possible. Whittaker Chambers, the former editor of //Time//, says that Einstein was the father of the nuclear bomb because it was his initiative that started the U.S. research to create the bomb and it was his E = mc^2 equation that made the atomic bomb theoretically possible ( Isaacson). Now we use nuclear energy not just for bombs, but to help provide energy for our country. With the help of Einstein's famous equation, we now live in a more destructive    world, but one     where we have a better renewable resource for energy.  <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Einstein's Theory of Relativity has <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">discovered that matter causes space to curve, the fourth dimension, and the advancement of nuclear power. All of these ideas can be seen in everyday life. The idea that matter causes space to curve was a big breakthrough in the way we view and think about the universe. It also introduced to the idea of the gravitational time dilation effect. Adding time as the fourth dimension was logical because the properties of all the dimensions we so closely related. The fourth dimension also proved that time travel is possible. Nuclear power and bombs have been a big influence in past history and still play a big role today as we live our everyday lives. None of these ideas would have been possible without Einstein's Theory of Relativity. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> media type="google" key="6322511432077219124&hl=en&fs=true" width="400" height="326" Isaacson, Walter. "Chain Reaction: From Einstein to the Atomic Bomb | Einstein | DISCOVER Magazine ." __Science and Technology News, Science Articles | Discover Magazine__. 18 Mar. 2008. 5 Feb. 2009 <http://discovermagazine.com/2008/mar/18-chain-reaction-from-einstein-to-the-atomic-bomb>. Lightman, Alan. "NOVA | Einstein's Big Idea | Relativity (Lightman Essay) | PBS." __PBS__. 5 Feb. 2009 <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/relativity/index.html>. "Relativity." __abyss.uoregon.edu Web Server__. 5 Feb. 2009 <http://abyss.uoregon.edu/~js/21st_century_science/lectures/lec06.html>. "Time According to Einstein's Theory of Relativity." __The Science of History__. 5 Feb. 2009 <http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/02088/einstein.htm>.
 * This website tell how Einstein was related in the creation of the neuclear bomb. It's a good source because it's from Discover Magazine, a well-known and trusted company. It was also wirtten by Walted Isaacson, the former editer of //Time.//
 * In this website, you can find multiple dates on which Einstein created the idea of relativity. Also, it talks in detail about general realativity. It mentions about examples on relativity to make it easier to understand. This is a credible site because it's from NOVA, a respected tv series. It is also from PBS, a trused name throughout america.
 * This website explains in detail about the many aspects of Einstein's Theory of Reviality by using lots of pictures and diagrams. It also has lots of information about what the pictures are showing and picks out the key points. It is credible because it's from the physics department of the University of Oregon.
 * This website uses pictures and videos to help understand the theory of relativity better. It also goes into detail about the theory. It is credible because it is from thinkquest, a respectbale organization.