1. ASTR 1102-002 2008 Fall Semester [Slides from Lecture16]
Joel E. Tohline, Alumni Professor
Office: 247 Nicholson Hall
[Slides from Lecture16]

2. Chapter 22: Black Holes

3. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity
Special Theory of Relativity
Properly describes how nature behaves when objects/observers are moving at a constant velocity relative to one another
Description correct even as velocities approach the speed of light
General Theory of Relativity
A generalization of the special theory to include accelerations, that is, objects/observers not moving at constant velocity relative to one another
Includes effects of acceleration in a gravitational field

4. Special Relativity Based on two basic principles:
Your description of physical reality is the same regardless of the constant velocity at which you move.
Regardless of your speed or direction of motion, you always measure the speed of light to be the same.

5. Our Normal (nonrelativistic) Understanding of Nature

6. Implications of Special Relativity
Length contraction
Time dilation

7. Length Contraction

8. Time Dilation

9. Implications of Special Relativity
Length contraction
Time dilation
E = mc2
Examples:
Decay of unstable particles called muons (Box 22-1 in textbook)
Twin paradox (not discussed in textbook)

10. General Relativity Equivalence principle:
The downward pull of gravity can be accurately and completely duplicated by an upward acceleration of the observer.

13. Tests of General Relativity
Gravitational bending of light
Precession of Mercury’s orbit
Gravitational slowing of time and gravitational redshift
Gravitational waves!  LIGO

14. Gravitational Bending of Light

15. Gravitational Bending of Light

16. Precession of Mercury’s Orbit

17. Gravitational Redshift

18. Black Hole

19. Black Hole

20. Rotating Black Hole

21. Flying Toward a Black Hole

22. Dropping Into a Black Hole

23. Sloooow Evaporation of a BH