Gravity Probe B confirms two fundamental theories of Einstein on space-time

The severity , with the permission of the hypothetical dark energy is one of the most influential forces that govern all the universe at the same time one of the most complex. But luckily we have a powerful tool to unravel its mysteries, the general theory of relativity published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and 1916 which, among other things predicted many effects of gravity on spacetime. Well, now a NASA experiment articulated by Gravity Probe B has confirmed a negligible margin of error two of the most important phenomena predicted by general relativity: the geodetic effect and the effect of gravitational rotational frame-dragging.

According to general relativity, an object of great mass, for example the Earth with its gravity causes spacetime to curve around it (geodetic effect) and also carries with it the species-time as it rotates (frame-dragging). How noses are experimentally verified these two effects? I'll be asking the majority.

The Gravity Probe-B incorporated in December 2010 was put out of service, the four precise gyroscopes built by man and was calibrated with a "guide star (IM Pegasi and the quasar 3C454.3) to have a reference direction for gyros while he was in polar orbit around Earth and then to check whether the direction of rotation of the same changes. So, if gravity did not affect the space-time, the gyroscopes would point always in the same direction while the probe remained in orbit, but it turns out that changes were detected in the direction of rotation of the four satellite devices so that Einstein's theories were confirmed (or rather, were confirmed with an accuracy higher than what had been achieved so far and that a scientific theory can never be considered the sufficiently verified.)

Without further context, it is likely that many said so here I sound like much but to determine the two effects we are concerned with the precision that is achieved is extremely complex. To give you an idea of the effort that has brought all this enough to say that NASA started working on a project to create a gyroscope to relativity in 1963, the investigation has cost more than $ 750 million or that many of technological innovations created for the Gravity Probe B has allowed the development of several critical missions, for example, the mission of the Cosmic Background Explorer data provided today represent the mainstay of the Big Bang theory.

Finally remark that I am glad of the results obtained by the Gravity Probe B is not only because they have great positive implications for astrophysics research world but also because they closed at a stroke the mouths of all those saying that the probe would be useless (and global level to all those who generally believe that states should spend less money on research astrophysics).

Image: NASA

Gravity Probe B confirms two fundamental theories of Einstein on space-time written in ALT1040 on 5 May, 2011 by elias
Send to Twitter | Share on Facebook