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Physics Lectures for the General MIT Community: d Celestial Mechanics from Newton to Einstein
Prof. Scott Hughes
Wed Jan 19, 01:30-02:30pm, 6-120
No enrollment limit, no advance sign up
Single session event
Celestial mechanics is one of the greatest achievements of Newton's theory of gravity. Newton's law is universal: A single law describes gravity on the surface of the earth and between celestial bodies. Einstein taught us that Newton's gravity is incomplete. His general theory of relativity subsumed Newton's gravity, correcting some inconsistencies and revealing new features. One of the best ways to test general relativity is again by studying orbits. In this lecture, I will show how celestial mechanics is modified as we go from Newton to Einstein, detailing the subtle differences found in the solar system, the significant effects found in some stellar systems, and the enormous effects that we aim to observe in the near future.
Contact: Prof. Scott Hughes, 37-626C, 253-8523, sahughes@mit.edu
Sponsor: Physics
Latest update: 21-Dec-2004
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