Spacetime and Special theory of relativity

I have few questions to ask for the members of Brilliant :

what does "space time" and "curvature of space time" refer to ?
what does the "special theory of relativity" and "general theory of relativity" state ?

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Remember to wrap math in `$` ... `$` or `\[` ... `\]` to ensure proper formatting.
`2 \times 3`	$2 \times 3$
`2^{34}`	$2^{34}$
`a_{i-1}`	$a_{i-1}$
`\frac{2}{3}`	$\frac{2}{3}$
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`\sin \theta`	$\sin \theta$
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Comments

Space time refers to the dimensions of the universe.

Harshit Tiwari - 7 years ago

Not really. It really means the very fabric of existence, not just space but also time.

Finn Hulse - 7 years ago

Thanks Finn Hulse for a great explanation. ...hope you will help me clearing my doubts

Harshit Tiwari - 7 years ago

@Harshit Tiwari – You're welcome! :D

Finn Hulse - 7 years ago

Those are good questions! Read this article I wrote a while back. It's a bit long, so I'll just answer your questions here:

Space-time is the fabric that everything is made of, including empty space/void. It has been observed that large bodies of gravity can even have an effect upon space-time, which you have called "curvature of space-time". The article should help you become familiar with the mechanics.
Einstein's theories of relativity talk about relative motion, like two cars driving next to each other, or somebody bouncing a rubber ball in a plane. He "dumb"-ed it down a lot so that almost anybody can read his paper.

Questions? :D

Finn Hulse - 7 years ago

Thank you for your answer, Finn. I asked these questions so that i could understand Stephen Hawking 's " Black holes and Baby Universes and other essays " clearly . I hope I would still ask more questions on astrophysics and the universe within this month

Sriram Venkatesan - 7 years ago

Anytime! :D

Finn Hulse - 7 years ago

Finn, I will surely say that you would become the youngest scientist of USA !!!

Sriram Venkatesan - 7 years ago

:D I wish. :D

Finn Hulse - 7 years ago

Finn, I have 2 questions to ask on your article : 1. What do you mean when you say that " pulling is what time is " in 17th line ? 2. What do you say about " Length Contraction " which is very difficult to understand ?

Sriram Venkatesan - 7 years ago

I'm saying that in the model I'm using, where spacetime is a latex-like fabric, that where a warping is the space, the pulling of the fabric is like a representation of time. As for length contraction, you're right, it's more complicated. A quick Google search should help you out, though. :D

Finn Hulse - 7 years ago

Math	Appears as
Remember to wrap math in `\(` ... `\)` or `\[` ... `\]` to ensure proper formatting.
`2 \times 3`	$2 \times 3$
`2^{34}`	$2^{34}$
`a_{i-1}`	$a_{i-1}$
`\frac{2}{3}`	$\frac{2}{3}$
`\sqrt{2}`	$\sqrt{2}$
`\sum_{i=1}^3`	$\sum_{i=1}^3$
`\sin \theta`	$\sin \theta$
`\boxed{123}`	$\boxed{123}$