General Relativity — Space Curves
Einstein's Theory of Relativity — Without the Formulas
General relativity: the equivalence principle, curved spacetime, gravity as geometry. GPS gains +45 μs/day — net 7 miles of error per day without correction.
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Learning Material
7 pagesLesson 5 — General Relativity: Space Curves
Understanding the Complex: Einstein's Theory of Relativity — Without the Formulas
Anchor update:
GPS satellites at 12,500 miles altitude are in a weaker gravitational field than clocks on the ground. General relativity predicts their clocks gain ~45 microseconds per day. Combined with the −7 from special relativity, the net is +38 μs/day — about 7 miles of GPS error if uncorrected.
Special relativity handles the speed effect. General relativity handles gravity. This lesson explains why gravity makes clocks run faster.