Chapter 10 - To Infinity and Beyond

Chapter 10 - To Infinity and Beyond

 

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe. 

Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

                     

 

One could not venture far into the development of scientific thought in the early 20^th century without mentioning, possibly one of the best known names in science, Albert Einstein.  In a career spanning over 50 years, he investigated many of the ambiguities of physics.  Above all else, his name will be forever synonymous with: The Theory of Relativity and the formula: E=mc2.   Many regard Einstein as a cerebral demigod; others, rate him high enough to be pasted onto a kitsch T-shirt.

 

Einstein was a theoretical physicist; an occupation stretching back to Pythagoras of Samos (570-495BC).  As the name implies, those who work in that area indulge more in - what should in theory happen �" rather than what happens in reality.  Theorists create hypotheses with the use of mathematical models, formulae and thought experiments (German - gedankenexperiment:  Ancient Greek - deiknymi).  Such theories may not be proved conclusively for many years �" if ever. 

 

*For famous thought experiments see: Schrodinger’s cat �" or Maxwell’s demon.  

 

From our historical vantage point, it is only too easy to picture Mr A Einstein sitting in his patent office, pondering the finer points of relativity.  Then, like Archimedes, he has a light-bulb moment when everything falls into place.  “Heureka”, he shouts!  (German, for that other word)  He then dashes off to write his thesis before he forgets what he was thinking about.  I’m sure you’ll appreciate; it didn’t quite happen that way.  As we have proved convincingly throughout these pages, such significant ideas do not ‘just occur’ in isolation.  To understand how the Theory of Relativity got going, it would be necessary to begin perhaps with Aristotle.  If one didn’t wish to delve that far back, then one would at least have to start around the time of Galileo (1564-1642) or Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727). 

In more modern times, contemporaries of Einstein, Jules Henri Poincaré (1854-1912) and the Dutch physicist, Hendrik Lorentz (1853-1928), were both directly instrumental in the development of today’s Theory of Relativity. 

 

Whilst researching, I came across one document accusing Einstein of having stolen or plagiarized the idea of relativity from the abovementioned gentlemen.  The author of that document suggested Einstein would go down as the biggest fraud in history!  Nikola Tesla, an amazing character well worth reading up on, went as far as to suggest the concept of relativity originated with a countryman of his, one Ru�'er Bošković (1711-1787).  Incidentally, Tesla himself did not believe in General Relativity because it meant disposing of the idea of the ‘cosmic ether’.  

 

It is recorded that although Albert Einstein never directly acknowledged the contributions of either Poincaré or Lorentz, a few years before his death, he commented on Poincaré as being one of the pioneers of relativity, saying: “Lorentz had already recognised that the transformation named after him (Lorentz) is essential for the analysis of Maxwell’s equations, and Poincaré deepened this insight still further…”

 

The ‘logic’ behind the Theory of Relativity does not immediately fall into place in our terrestrial bound psyche, nor, as one reveals its essence, does it directly make much sense .  Trumpeted as one of the most significant advances of our time, Relativity is so named because time and length are shown not to be absolutes!  The clock on the wall and the tape measure on the desk seem like absolutes!  A minute and a centimetre for you, must be the same as they are for me and the same elsewhere in the universe; but they are not!  According to the theory of relativity, objects travelling (in space) near the speed of light will move slower and shorten in length, from the point of view of an observer on Earth.  For an excellent explanation of this phenomenon I recommend reading ‘the twins’ paradox’:  The Puzzle of the Twins pp. 59-65 �" About Time �" Davies (1995).  Time dilation, as an observable reality, is clarified by Davies in his usual inimitable style throughout the paperback.  The central point of time dilation, in this sense is: really high speed space travel is also time travel �" the space traveller can travel into the future without physically aging at the same rate as an observer on Earth.

Einstein’s third paper, ‘On the Electrodynamics of Moving bodies’ was published on the 3^rd June1905.  It is that paper which deals with space, time and the speed of light.  Einstein’s final paper of 1905 established perhaps the most well-known formula in history: E=mc2.  The theory states that mass and energy is essentially the same thing.  From special relativity, (1905) he explained that as a body neared the speed of light, its mass increased.  As mass increases, the body becomes harder to push and accelerate; resulting in a universal speed limit, the speed of light itself.  Light, then, becomes the fastest speed at which it is possible to travel.

 

It took Einstein several years to realise he had made a few oversights, hence the publication of an additional paper: The General Theory of Relativity.  That paper was published in 1916, and dealt with gravity and acceleration �" thus completing his earlier propositions.

 

As expected, initial reactions to Einstein’s proposals were approached with great caution.  Some of the implications were quite astounding; if Einstein was correct then space itself was curved.  In addition, light could be bent by gravity (now known as gravitational lensing), black holes should exist, Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB) should be detectable and our cosmos would be expanding (as verified by Hubble in 1928).

 

Einstein’s theories of special and general relativity have, in recent times, been established with a high degree of accuracy.  Many of his calculations have been substantiated with the development of modern technology that allows measurements and experiments, undreamt of in Einstein’s time, to be carried out.  One of the earliest and most famous of these affirmations occurred during the total solar eclipse of 1919 �" which proved beyond doubt that as starlight passed the Sun, on its way to Earth, it is deflected (bent) by the Sun’s gravitational pull.  Relativity also predicted the rate at which two neutron stars orbiting one another will move toward each other; when first documented, general relativity proved correct to better than a trillionth of a percent of accuracy.  Einstein no doubt felt some degree of relief at the extent of such accuracy; or perhaps he just whispered: ‘I told you so.’

 

Over the past one hundred years, many books have been written and many discussion papers have explored Einstein’s theories.  Successive experiments have continued to prove and support Einstein’s mathematical hypotheses.  Naturally �" science being what it is �" Einstein’s work is always open to criticism or challenge.  However, as time passes, proof piles upon proof, providing further support to the multitude of implications thrown up by his work.  The Science News �" Nov 10, 2005 �" reported how the University of Manchester (UK) discovered a new method to check aspects of the theory of relativity: see - http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/11/051110090022.htm

 

Yet again, in May, 2011, NASA Science released results of, what it described as, an Epic Space-Time Experiment: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/04may_epic/

 

The details outlined in the NASA press release confirmed that: Space-time around Earth appears to be distorted, just as general relativity predicted!  The extraordinary technology developed to gather the required data is mind-boggling.  Four gyroscopes were launched into space to record and measure the twist created by the Earth’s gravitational pull on the fabric of space itself.  The four gyroscopes are the most perfect spheres ever made by humans.  Each measures 3.81cm and never differs from a perfect sphere by more than 40 atomic layers.  The process of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) moves into the area of semi-conductors, and is worth reading about, should one feel so moved.  Einstein’s work continues its relevance in revealing the mysteries of the universe.  In so saying, we should never forget the contributions of those not fully acknowledged as we search to infinity and beyond.

 

Refs:

All About Science. (2002). Teory of Relativity - A Brief History. Retrieved July 22, 2011, from All About Science: http://www.allaboutscience.org/theory-of-relativity.htm

Davies, P. (1995). About Time. In P. Davies, About Time - Einstein's Unfinished Revolution (pp. 59 - 65). London: Penguin Books.

Davies, P. (2003). The Origin of Life. London: Penguin Books.

fullspate. (unknown). The Theory of Relativity for Dummies. Retrieved August 12, 2011, from fullspate - English with attitude in search of a purpose: http://www.fullspate.net/

NASA. (2011, May 12). NASA Announces Results of Epic Space-Time Experiment. Retrieved August 13, 2011, from NASA Science - Science News: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/04may_epic/

Scanlon, P. (2011). Albert Einstein Facts 87. Retrieved August 13, 2011, from HubPages: http://hubpages.com/hub/Albert-Einstein-Facts

Science Daily. (2005, November 10). Einstein's Relativity Theory Proven with the Lead of a Pencil. Retrieved August 13, 2011, from Science News: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/11/051110090022.htm

Singh, S. (2005). Big Bang. London: Harper Perennial.

Wikipedia. (2011, August 11). General Relativity. Retrieved August 13, 2011, from Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedias: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_relativity

Wikipedia. (2011, August). Henri Poincare. Retrieved August 12, 2011, from Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Poincaré#Poincar.C3.A9_and_Einstein

Wikipedia. (2011, August 4). Special Relativity. Retrieved August 13, 2011, from Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_relativity