Gravity Probe B was a NASA mission designed to test two unverified predictions of Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity: the geodetic effect and frame-dragging. By precisely measuring the orientation of gyroscopes in orbit around Earth, the experiment confirmed these relativistic effects with unprecedented accuracy, enhancing our understanding of spacetime and gravitational fields.

Gravity Probe B

NASA mission

Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity

The geodetic effect, also known as geodetic precession, refers to the precession of a gyroscope's axis due to spacetime curvature around a massive body, as predicted by Einstein's theory of General Relativity. This effect has been experimentally confirmed by missions such as Gravity Probe B, providing crucial evidence for the curvature of spacetime caused by Earth's mass.

Geodetic Effect

Frame-dragging is a phenomenon predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity, where the rotation of a massive object 'drags' the spacetime around it. This effect has been experimentally confirmed by observations of the Earth's influence on nearby satellites and gyroscopes, demonstrating the intricate interplay between mass, rotation, and spacetime curvature.

Frame-Dragging

Orientation of gyroscopes

Earth

Relativistic effects refer to the phenomena that become significant when objects move at velocities close to the speed of light, as described by Einstein's theory of relativity. These effects include time dilation, length contraction, and mass-energy equivalence, fundamentally altering our understanding of space, time, and energy interactions.

Relativistic Effects

Spacetime is a four-dimensional continuum that merges the three dimensions of space with the one dimension of time, forming the fundamental framework within which the events of the universe occur. This concept is integral to Einstein's theory of General Relativity, which describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy.

Spacetime

A gravitational field is a region of space surrounding a mass where another mass experiences a force of attraction. This concept is central to understanding how masses interact in the universe, following the principles of Newton's law of universal gravitation and Einstein's general theory of relativity.

Concepts

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