Quote:
Originally Posted by MickeyC
In the relatively section, does the author focus on just general relativity or does he also discuss special relativity?
Thanks
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I read it last year. My recollection is that both the special and general theories were discussed.
The book starts with the impact of Newton’s theory of gravity on modern science; how its success in explaining the cosmos of 1700 and 1800s science validated Newton’s theory to the extent that eminent astronomers of the late 1800s spent considerable efforts and gambled reputations on the search for a non-existent inner planet that would explain a significant anomaly in Newton’s theory, the procession of the perihelion of Mercury.
The author describes how Einstein was able to demonstrate in 1915 that relativity could explain the issue of Mercury’s orbit. He also notes that even with Einstein's insight, it took him years of effort developing the equations to prove it.
I thought it was a great illustration of how the scientific method works