Einsteins theory of relativity

It is such a funny thing to know that there is a story about Albert Einstein which dismantles that
during his school years, he hated mathematics. The story tells that he was so attracted and interested in
studying physics particularly light and gravity but never mathematics. The tale about this famous
scientist states that he used his mathematics time in imagining himself riding in a beam of light and
fortunately, after several years of his thought experiments, he, in his theory of Relativity, explained how
and why light behaves as it does: something that could be considered then a radical Philosophy and not
a science, but really it was!
There are two theories of relativity posited by Einstein: the general and special relativity. Students
might think of Special theory as so complex, but though it sounds really difficult, mathematically
speaking it is just a bit of calculus mixed with the other branches of mathematics compared to general
theory which uses a much more complicated mathematical language: tensor calculus. Be it too complex
or so simple, anxieties arises: How did Albert use mathematics in his theory of relativity and how did he
be able to use it as a language of his scientific discovery?
Albert Einstein theorized that when an object sits in a cosmic space, it curves. Well, visualizing
his theory in a two dimensional space is pretty hard. Hence we have to extend the concept of curving
space to a more than two dimensions and this can be done through the aid of mathematics.
The general theory of relativity describes the fundamental interaction of gravitation caused by the
warping of space and time. This warping of space, which is the gravity itself, is the result of the object
within it. This shows that the space possesses a special property: the curvature and flexible kind of
Geometry. In physics, space-time is a four-dimensional space: three of space and one of time. This
means that it is an abstract concept derived by generalizing the rules of three-dimensional space. Since
it is abstract, it is very impossible to imagine and make a clear picture out of imagination. The use of
mathematics took an important role in making his theory understandable and easily verified. The use of
equation and algebraic representation of this geometric idea made his theory of relativity clearer
enough to grasp. If we look at how Albert Einstein defined the space, we would notice the ideas about
non-Euclidean geometry. Einstein used hyperbolic geometry to explain his theory in such a way that it is
easily visualized and understood. Thus, without understanding Non-Euclidean geometry, it would be
tedious to comprehend and imagine his theory of relativity.
The kind of geometry being taught in high school is geometry of a plane surface. In this plane, it
cannot be argued that there is only one line through a point that is parallel to another given line. But
with the rise of non-Euclidean geometry, it turns out that we can define parallel lines very different from
that definition handed by Euclid provided, there is a surface exactly opposite of Euclids plane; a surface
where curvature exists. The notion that Euclidean geometry has a zero curvature, spherical geometry
has a positive and that hyperbolic geometry has negative curvature was the main ideas that Albert
Einstein latched onto when he was at the stage of forming his theory.
Einstein, during his days, made several insights about science. On the other hand, the structures
were so messy mathematically. Indeed, he who hated mathematics explained his discovery to his friend
about gravity and asked for any field of mathematics he could use to express his hypothesis in a
mathematically clearer manner. His good friend told him about the tensor calculus and matrix
mechanics in linear algebra. Tensors are mathematical formulas used to describe motion in a non-
Euclidean space like a space where earth lies. We know that in this type of space, different types of
motion and shapes happens and created, making it necessary for general relativity of Einstein which
theorizes that space-time is not flat but a changing and adapting place; possesses curvatures or curved
depending on where the concentration of mass is situated, a view exactly in contrast to Newtons
theory.
Through the use of mathematics, Einstein formulated a mathematical definition of his premise in a
way that was not just compact but showed the relationship easily and comprehensible. Using tensor
calculus, Albert came up with the equation:

G


References:
Einsteins General Theory of Relativity or why you should stay awake in Math Class. n.d. Web. 10
December 2013. < http://ww2.valdosta.edu/~cbarnbau/phys_math/p1_grel.html>

Jones, Andrew Z. Physics Myth Month-Einstein Failed Mathematics?19 September 2007. Web. 10
December 2013.

McPhee, Isaac, M.The Math of General Relativity. 3 February 2008. Web. 15 January 2014