UPSC Prelims 2018·GS1·science-and-technology·science and technology

Consider the following phenomena : 1. Light is affected by gravity. 2. The Universe is constantly expanding. 3. Matter warps its surrounding space-time. Which of the above is/are the prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in media ?

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  1. A1 and 2 only
  2. B3 only
  3. C1 and 3 only
  4. D1, 2 and 3Correct

Explanation

Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, published in 1915, revolutionized our understanding of gravity by describing it not as a force, but as a curvature of space-time caused by mass and energy. All three statements are indeed predictions or fundamental consequences of this theory: 1. **Light is affected by gravity**: General Relativity predicts that light rays, even though massless, will follow the curvature of space-time caused by massive objects. This phenomenon, known as gravitational lensing, was famously confirmed during a solar eclipse in 1919 and is now widely observed. 2. **The Universe is constantly expanding**: While Edwin Hubble's observations in the 1920s provided empirical evidence for the expanding universe, General Relativity's field equations, when applied to the universe as a whole, naturally lead to solutions that describe a dynamic universe, including an expanding one. Einstein himself initially introduced a cosmological constant to force a static universe, but later called it his 'biggest blunder' after Hubble's discovery. 3. **Matter warps its surrounding space-time**: This is the central tenet of General Relativity. Instead of gravity being a force pulling objects, massive objects (matter and energy) deform or 'warp' the fabric of space-time around them. Other objects (including light) then follow the curved paths in this warped space-time, which we perceive as gravity. Therefore, all three phenomena are predictions or direct implications of Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity.
science-and-technology: Consider the following phenomena : 1. Light is affected by gravity. 2. The Universe is constantly expanding. 3. Matter w

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