general relativity
noun
relativity2
Jump To:
-
general relativity
-
General Relativity
General RelativityA geometrical theory of gravity developed by Albert Einstein in which gravity's effects are a consequence of the curvature of four-dimensional space-time. According to this theory, the energy and momentum of all matter and radiation cause curvature in space-time, in a way similar to the creation of electric and magnetic fields by electric charges and currents. This curvature also opens the possibility that the universe is closed, having finite volume but without any boundary. Among the many experimentally confirmed consequences of General Relativity are the perihelion precession of the planet Mercury, the bending of light in a gravitational field, and the slowing of time in a gravitational field.
general relativity
Americannoun
General Relativity
Scientific
/ jĕn′ər-əl /
-
A geometrical theory of gravity developed by Albert Einstein in which gravity's effects are a consequence of the curvature of four-dimensional space-time. According to this theory, the energy and momentum of all matter and radiation cause curvature in space-time, in a way similar to the creation of electric and magnetic fields by electric charges and currents. This curvature also opens the possibility that the universe is closed, having finite volume but without any boundary. Among the many experimentally confirmed consequences of General Relativity are the perihelion precession of the planet Mercury, the bending of light in a gravitational field, and the slowing of time in a gravitational field.
-
See also closed universe equivalence principle Special Relativity
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"It is the first time general relativity has been needed to describe the mechanics of a supernova."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 6, 2026
The cosmological constant first appeared in Albert Einstein's equations of general relativity, his theory of space, time, and gravity.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 2026
As the two black holes orbit each other, they gradually lose energy through the emission of gravitational waves, a process predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 5, 2026
When scientists use general relativity to calculate collisions at extremely high energies near the Planck scale, the math stops working properly and produces infinities.
From Science Daily ● May 19, 2026
According to the singularity theorems of classical general relativity, there would still have been a big bang singularity.
From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking
"If confirmed, it could help us better understand both our own Galaxy, and General Relativity as a whole."
From Science Daily ● Feb. 17, 2026
One of the first experiments frozen positronium could be used for is to see if its antimatter part follows Einstein's Theory of General Relativity in the same way as the matter part.
From BBC ● Feb. 22, 2024
The work validated “Einstein’s General Relativity in situations where gravity is so strong that spacetime is significantly curved,’’ the judges said.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 11, 2023
It is said that Einstein was indifferent when told that experimental findings found evidence to support his theory of General Relativity.
From Salon ● Jun. 13, 2021
Some important conceptual aspects of general relativity are discussed in General Relativity and Quantum Gravity of this course.
From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
