Abstract
Our ordinary view of space is such that it resembles Euclidean geometry. In fact, in the Special Theory of Relativity the spatial part of the four-dimensional space-time is flat (Euclidean). Euclid, who worked in Alexandria around 300 BC (practically nothing else is known about his life), developed a system of geometry which is still part of our mathematics curricula. In the 19th century mathematicians were able to construct consistent non-Euclidean spaces. According to Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity space is curved by the matter it contains. Hence, the real physical space could be non-Euclidean. Other novel phenomena implied by Einstein’s theory include e.g., black holes and gravitational waves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsNotes
- 1.
At that time, only two competitors to General Relativity were known. The theory of Finnish physicist Gunnar Nordström (Chap. 18) did not predict any bending of light. Nordström was a student of Einstein in Zurich for a while and kept in close touch with Einstein afterward. Newton’s theory did predict a bending, but only half of the General Relativity value. Nordström’s most notable student was Rolf Nevanlinna whose followers (e.g., Paul Kustaanheimo and Gustaf Järnefelt) continued the relativity studies in Finland.
- 2.
For every black hole, there is a maximal speed at which it can rotate. The limiting surface for a maximally rotating black hole is only half a Schwarzschild radius from the center. Outside the limiting surface, there is a region called ergosphere where the space whirl exceeds the speed of light. Under suitable conditions particles may extract a little bit of the rotational energy of the black hole in this region and fly off, carrying the energy with them.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Teerikorpi, P., Valtonen, M., Lehto, K., Lehto, H., Byrd, G., Chernin, A. (2019). Curved Space and Gravity. In: The Evolving Universe and the Origin of Life. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17921-2_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17921-2_15
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-17920-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-17921-2
eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)