What exactly in simple words is the theory of relativity?

Answer 1

The general theory of relativity is a geometric description of the universe providing a relationship between how matter "shapes" space and the "shape" of space influences of movement of matter. A simple conceptual example is the motion of the moon around the earth. Imagine space as a flat rubber sheet streched tight and supported at its edges. If a bowling ball is placed in the center of the rubber sheet to represent Earth, the sheet will bend like a bowl around the bowling ball. The orbit of the moon around the Earth can then be described as travelling a path inside the "bowl-like" depression in space around the earth. The theory of general relativity describes how space bends -- i.e. how the rubber sheet bends, and how matter moves in space -- i.e. how things move along the rubber sheet.

Of course, calculations using relativitiy reveal all sorts of interesting features about how time and space interact, but those interesting features are too difficult to describe without discussing the mathematics of the theory -- i.e.
E^2 = (pc)^2 + (mc^2)^2 or the more famous form when p = 0
E = mc^2

Answer 2

It starts with the observation that the speed of light is the same for all observers regardless fo their inertial frame of reference or relative speed or the speed of the light source. This, in turn, requires that some very strange sounding things have to happen for cause and effect to be maintained. Some of the stranger ones are that time and space have to be thought of as two different aspects of the same thing (as well as mass and energy), that spacetime has to 'curve' in the vicinity of mass, that the mass and energy of anything increase without bound as velocity increases, that time 'slows down' as you accelerate, and that mass and energy are related by E = mc².

Doug

Answer 3

Universe consists of matter and energy. Energy is transmitted in the form of electromagntic radiation with an
absolute speed of C.

Absolute means no reference frame ,whether it is rest or in uniform motion, cannot measure its speed differently.

It follows from this that no material cannot attain the speed of light and it is the maximum limit.



This makes mass, length and time as relative quantities and are not absolute. They change their values according to the speed.

Answer 4

The speed of light in a vacuum is the same for all observers, regardless of their relative motion or of the motion of the source of the light

Answer 5

the quick answer is which you're conflating the spacetime manifold with the actual international wherein we are residing. in the manifold all activities are fastened, continuously. One analyzes what occurs in the manifold and makes predictions for actual-international activities. The spacetime manifold is a clever abstraction.

Answer 6

simply ....throw a ball into a moving car....