2006-11-30 05:24:55 · 3 answers · asked by goring 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Was space time concept an imaginary mathematical abstract(not in concrete terms)?Was it that much different from the old Aether properties?
2006-11-30 05:32:15 · update #1
No.
Before Einstein physicists tried to explain the properties of light by assuming there was this fluid like medium (Aether) everywhere in the universe.
Einstein showed that such assumptions could not explain observation. Instead he eventually introduced a new idea of space time, and explained gravity as curvature in space. The differences between space time and Aether are like night and day. In no ways does space time curvature resemble a fluid of any sorts. In fact they talk about two totally different things. Aether deals with the properties of light, space time curvature deals with the properties of gravity.
2006-11-30 06:25:27 · answer #1 · answered by sparrowhawk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What Einstein did with Special Relativity was to ELIMINATE the need for a concept of aether. The aether is now an outdated concept and not supported by experiments.
2006-11-30 13:28:38 · answer #2 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Newton postulated that light was a wave. Waves need a medium to propagate in. Newton called this medium the nebuliferous aether. Einstein's theory of relativity eliminated the need for the medium
2006-11-30 14:03:10 · answer #3 · answered by christopher N 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋