Was gravitational length contraction predicted by general theory of relativity ?

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of gravitational length contraction and whether it was predicted by the general theory of relativity. The speaker also mentions a source where this topic is discussed. Additionally, the speaker mentions the practical application of gravitational time dilation, which was also predicted by the general theory of relativity.
  • #1
manvirsingh
9
0
I have read somewhere about the phenomenon called gravitational length contraction.Was gravitational length contraction predicted by general theory of relativity?
 
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  • #2
You have to define how you are measuring the length of a distant object.
 
  • #3
manvirsingh said:
I have read somewhere about the phenomenon called gravitational length contraction.Was gravitational length contraction predicted by general theory of relativity?
Yes, and you can read it here (English translation p.196-197:
http://web.archive.org/web/20060829045130/http://www.Alberteinstein.info/gallery/gtext3.html

In particular he concludes there:

- that the "rod thus appears a little shortened [..] by the presence of the gravitational field, if the rod is laid along a radius", and
- that "the gravitational field [..] has no influence on the length of a rod" in the tangential position.

PS: of more practical use was his prediction of gravitational time dilation, which he explains next.

Harald
 
Last edited:

FAQ: Was gravitational length contraction predicted by general theory of relativity ?

1. What is gravitational length contraction?

Gravitational length contraction is a phenomenon predicted by general relativity that suggests that objects with mass will appear to contract in length when in the presence of a strong gravitational field.

2. Was gravitational length contraction predicted by the general theory of relativity?

Yes, gravitational length contraction was predicted by the general theory of relativity, which was published by Albert Einstein in 1915.

3. How does gravitational length contraction work?

Gravitational length contraction occurs because mass warps the fabric of space-time, causing objects to follow curved paths. As a result, objects near a massive body will appear to have a smaller length when viewed from a distance.

4. Is gravitational length contraction observable?

Yes, gravitational length contraction has been observed in experiments and observations, such as in the bending of starlight near massive objects like black holes.

5. Does gravitational length contraction only occur near massive objects like black holes?

No, gravitational length contraction can occur in any strong gravitational field, such as near planets or even on Earth. However, the effect is more noticeable near extremely dense objects like black holes.

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