The Lense-Thirring effect, also known as frame-dragging, is a relativistic phenomenon predicted by Einstein's General Theory of Relativity, where the rotation of a massive body 'drags' the spacetime around it. This effect has been observed in the vicinity of rotating astronomical objects like Earth and black holes, confirming the predictions of general relativity and enhancing our understanding of gravitational physics.

Lense-Thirring Effect

Lense-Thirring 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

relativistic phenomenon

Einstein's General Theory of Relativity revolutionized our understanding of gravity by describing it as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy, rather than a force acting at a distance. This theory has profound implications for the study of cosmology, black holes, and the behavior of light and time in strong gravitational fields.

Einstein's General Theory of Relativity

rotation of a massive body

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

rotating astronomical objects

Earth

Black holes are regions in space where the gravitational pull is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape from them. They are formed when massive stars collapse under their own gravity at the end of their life cycles, leading to singularities surrounded by an event horizon.

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