Why did Einstein change his prediction about bended light?

In summary, Albert Einstein originally predicted that light would bend in accordance with Newtonian mechanics, but after developing his theory of general relativity, he realized that the prediction should be twice as big due to the curvature of spacetime on a cosmological scale. This change was based on mathematical equations and was not influenced by the bending of the universe as a whole.
  • #1
Bjarne
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0
When Albert Einstein published the general theory of relativity he predicted that light would bend.

But before the measurement experiment was executed he changes that prediction. The last prediction was a factor 2 larger.

So far I remember he claimed that this was because also the whole Universe bends also bends (which I find hard to believe).

What was really the reason to that he changed his prediction, (he could not know that the whole Universe would cause exactly the double effects) – there must have been mathematical reason that had force him to change his prediction, - but which?
 
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  • #2
It's true that the universe has curved spacetime (if that's what you meant by "bends"), but that's on a cosmological scale, and it has no effect on solar-system tests of general relativity.

Einstein's original prediction was made after he'd published special relativity, but before he developed general relativity. It's simply the prediction you get if you use Newtonian mechanics and treat a ray of light as a particle. After he figured out general relativity, which is the relativistic theory of gravity, he figured out that the prediction should be twice as big.
 
  • #3
bcrowell said:
After he figured out general relativity, which is the relativistic theory of gravity, he figured out that the prediction should be twice as big.

But why did he do that?
Which equations did show he should?
 

1. How did Einstein discover the bending of light?

In 1915, Einstein developed his theory of general relativity, which proposed that gravity is not a force between masses, but rather a curvature of space and time caused by the presence of massive objects. This theory predicted that light would also be affected by this curvature, causing it to bend when passing near a massive object.

2. What is the significance of the bending of light in Einstein's theory?

The bending of light is a crucial aspect of Einstein's theory of general relativity, as it provided evidence for the existence of gravitational waves and confirmed the validity of his theory. It also allowed for the explanation of previously unexplainable phenomena, such as the orbit of Mercury and the deflection of starlight near the sun.

3. How was the bending of light experimentally confirmed?

In 1919, British astronomer Sir Arthur Eddington observed the bending of starlight during a solar eclipse, as predicted by Einstein's theory. This groundbreaking experiment provided strong evidence for the bending of light and solidified Einstein's theory of general relativity.

4. Can we observe the bending of light in our everyday lives?

Yes, the bending of light is a common phenomenon and can be observed in many situations. For example, when light passes through water or glass, it is bent due to the change in the medium's density. This is also the principle behind the bending of light in lenses, which allows us to see objects clearly.

5. How does the bending of light impact our understanding of the universe?

The bending of light has greatly impacted our understanding of the universe, as it has allowed us to observe and study objects that would otherwise be invisible. This includes objects such as black holes and distant galaxies, which can only be detected through the bending of light. It has also led to advancements in technology, such as gravitational lensing, which uses the bending of light to magnify and study distant objects in space.

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