AST201H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter S3.1-S3.4: Observable Universe, Equivalence Principle, Rocket Engine

• School: UTSG
• Department: Astronomy & Astrophysics
• Course: AST201H1
• Professor: Bryan Gaensler

Document Summary

S3. 1, s3. 2 (only the part called what is curved spacetime? ), Three dimensions of space and one dimension time --> four dimensional combo called spacetime. Gravity: presence of mass causes distortions which determine how other objects move through spacetime. The stronger the gravity, the more slowly time runs. Black holes can exist in spacetime, and falling into a black hole means leaving the observable universe. It is possible for the universe to have finite volume without having a center or boundaries. Large masses that undergo rapid changes in motion or structure emit gravitational waves that travel at the speed of light. What is the fundamental assumption of general relativity. Motion is no longer relative when introduce acceleration. Ex: no longer weightless in space if acceleration (creates force of gravity) The effects of gravity are exactly equivalent to the effects of acceleration. Space is filled with a gravitational field pointing downward toward the floor of spaceship.