Problems in General Relativity

In summary, there are many problems to be solved in general relativity, but some of these problems have been solved and others are still being investigated.
  • #1
kurt.physics
258
0
Is there any problems to be solved in general relativity?
 
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  • #2
!omg!
 
  • #3
I found one for you: go to this page and in section 8.2 you'll find a box in the right margin.
 
  • #4
CompuChip said:
I found one for you: go to this page and in section 8.2 you'll find a box in the right margin.
Quantum gravity is not a problem in general relativity.
 
  • #5
kurt.physics said:
Is there any problems to be solved in general relativity?

Yes, many.

For instance, people are working on (and finally having some success) with how to apply numerical methods to get valid solutions for physical events like black hole mergers.


Realistic gravitational collapse has a host of theoretical questions that need to be answered, especially rotating collapse.


And there are still people interested in finding new exact analytical solutions to Einstein's field equations.

And these are probalby not the important open questions, they are just the ones that interest me at the moment.
 
  • #6
kurt.physics said:
Is there any problems to be solved in general relativity?
What happens to a rotating disk?
 
  • #7
There are a lot of papers on the question of rotating disk in relativity. For instance, check out the sci.physics.faq

http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/SR/rigid_disk.html

As a result of these papers, it is known that the disk cannot be rigid. Finding a consistent model of a disk that can deform (as it must), but still rotate at relativistic velocities is a challenge. One can certainly model a disk made out of normal matter, with varying degrees of sophistication, and find out that it will explode before there are significant relativistic effects other than the sagnac effect.

The sagnac effect on rotating disks is reasonably well tested and understood in the literature, though there are different approaches as to how to handle the rotating disk. There are also a few maverick papers which are published and peer reviewed but unfortunately rather confused, illustrating that peer review does not always guarantee that a paper is correct. Appealing to experiment, though, it should be clear that papers that papers that predict that ring laser gyroscopes don't function can not be consistent with experiment. The literature could use a good pedagogical paper on this age-old problem, but there isn't anyone paper that has risen to stand above the rest, leaving the situation a bit of a muddle for the student. This is probably more disturbing to amateurs than people who are versed in the subject well enough to form their own opinions with some degree of self-confidence.

There are some non-peer reviewed papers that take up this challenge of non-rigid spinning disks, one of them http://www.gregegan.net/SCIENCE/Rings/Rings.html appears to me to be quite reasonable, but unfortunately I'm not aware of any peer-reviewed papers that address this question in as much detail as the above article does.
 

1. What is the main problem with General Relativity?

The main problem with General Relativity is that it does not fully align with quantum mechanics, which is the theory that describes the behavior of particles at a subatomic level. This means that there are currently limitations in our understanding of the universe, as both theories are highly successful in their respective domains but cannot be reconciled with each other.

2. Can General Relativity explain the concept of dark matter and dark energy?

No, General Relativity does not fully explain the concept of dark matter and dark energy. These are two of the biggest mysteries in modern physics and are believed to make up a large portion of the universe. While General Relativity can account for some of the observations related to dark matter and dark energy, it is not able to fully explain their existence and behavior.

3. How does General Relativity affect our understanding of time and space?

General Relativity revolutionized our understanding of time and space by proposing that they are not fixed and absolute, but rather influenced by the presence of massive objects. This theory introduced the concept of spacetime, where time and space are intertwined and can be affected by gravity.

4. What are some proposed solutions to the problems in General Relativity?

Some of the proposed solutions to the problems in General Relativity include modifying the theory to better align with quantum mechanics, or developing a new theory that can encompass both General Relativity and quantum mechanics. Another potential solution is to conduct further experiments and observations, which may provide new insights into these problems.

5. How has General Relativity been confirmed through experiments and observations?

General Relativity has been confirmed through various experiments and observations, including the bending of light by massive objects, the precession of Mercury's orbit, and the gravitational redshift of light. Additionally, the recent detection of gravitational waves provides further evidence for this theory. However, there are still unanswered questions and ongoing research to continue testing and refining General Relativity.

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