--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

Define Equivalence principle

Equivalence principle: The fundamental postulate of Sir Einstein’s general theory of relativity that posits that acceleration is basically indistinguishable from the gravitational field. In another words, when you are in an elevator that is utterly sealed and protected from the outside, and hence you can’t "peek outside," then when you feel a force (that is weight), it is basically not possible for you to say whether the elevator is present in a gravitational field, or whether the elevator has rockets joined to it and is accelerating "upward."

However that in practical conditions -- say, sitting in a closed room -- it would be probable to determine whether the acceleration felt was due to the uniform thrust or due to the gravitation (state, by computing the gradient of the field; if non-zero, it would point out a gravitational field instead of thrust); though, these differences could be made randomly small. The idea at the back is the equivalence principle is that it acts about the vicinity of a point, instead of over macroscopic distances. This would be not possible to state whether or not a given (random) acceleration field was caused by the thrust or gravitation by the use of physics by only.

The equivalence principle forecasts interesting general relativistic consequences since not only are the two indistinguishable to human observers, however also to the Universe as well -- any effect which occurs whenever an observer is accelerating must also occur in a gravitational field, and vice-versa.

   Related Questions in Physics

  • Q : How fireworks turn to shapes similar to

    Briefly illustrate how do fireworks turn to shapes similar to hearts and stars?

    		•
  • Q : Explain BCS theory BCS theory -  The

    BCS theory - The theory put forth to elucidate both superconductivity and super fluidity. This suggests that in the superconducting (or super fluid) state electrons form Cooper pairs, where two electrons proceed as a single unit. This takes a non

    		•
  • Q : Explain Cosmological constant

    Cosmological constant (Lambda): The constant mentioned to the Einstein field equation, proposed to admit the static cosmological solutions. At the time the present philosophical view was steady-state model of the space, where the Universe has been aro

    		•
  • Q : Define Cosmic background radiation or

    Cosmic background radiation: primal glow: The background of radiation is generally in the frequency range of 3 x 1011 to 3 x 108 Hz discovered in space in the year 1965. It is believed to be the cosmologically re

    		•
  • Q : Acceleration during this interval The

    The velocity of a body was observed to be constant throughout five minutes of its motion. Determine its acceleration during this interval?

    		•
  • Q : Define Heat pumps Heat pumps move heat

    Heat pumps move heat from one place to another. They work similar to refrigeration. The movement of heat takes energy, either electrical energy as in the use of  vapor compression heat pumps or thermal energy as in the use of absorption heat pump

    		•
  • Q : What is Cherenkov radiation Cherenkov

    Cherenkov radiation (P.A. Cherenkov): The radiation emitted by a huge particle which is moving faster than light in the medium via which it is travelling. No particle can travel faster than the light in vacuum, however the speed of light in other medi

    		•
  • Q : Problem on Orbit cycle Calculate the

    Calculate the hot and cold temperature after 25 orbits. Assume a 100kg spherical spacecraft made of aluminum. Assume that the spacecraft is in an equatorial orbit. How is calculation 1 different for a spacecraft in a 90 degree (polar) orbit?

    		•
  • Q : Define Olbers paradox Olbers' paradox

    Olbers' paradox (H. Olbers; 1826): If the Universe is infinite, consistent, and unchanging then the whole sky at night would be bright -- concerning as bright as the Sun. The further you stared out into space, the more stars there would be, and theref

    		•
  • Q : Development of Missile technology Name

    Name the women scientist who played the essential role in the development of Missile technology of India and is nick named as the ‘Missile Woman’?

    		•