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Theory of relativity
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{{Short description|Two interrelated physics theories by Albert Einstein}} {{About|the scientific concept|philosophical or ontological theories about relativity|Relativism|the silent film|The Einstein Theory of Relativity}} {{pp|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} [[File:BBH gravitational lensing of gw150914.webm|thumb|Video simulation of the merger [[GW150914]], showing [[spacetime]] distortion from gravity as the black holes orbit and merge]] The '''theory of relativity''' usually encompasses two interrelated [[physics]] theories by [[Albert Einstein]]: [[special relativity]] and [[general relativity]], proposed and published in 1905 and 1915, respectively.<ref>{{Citation |author=Einstein A. |date=1916 |type=Translation 1920 |title=Relativity: The Special and General Theory|publisher=H. Holt and Company|location=New York|title-link=s:Relativity: The Special and General Theory }}</ref> Special relativity applies to all physical phenomena in the absence of [[gravity]]. General relativity explains the law of gravitation and its relation to the forces of nature.<ref name="londontimes" /> It applies to the [[cosmological]] and astrophysical realm, including astronomy.<ref name=relativity/> The theory transformed [[theoretical physics]] and [[astronomy]] during the 20th century, superseding a 200-year-old [[Classical mechanics|theory of mechanics]] created primarily by [[Isaac Newton]].<ref name="relativity" /><ref name="spacetime" /><ref name="fitz-loren" /> It introduced concepts including 4-[[dimension]]al [[spacetime]] as a unified entity of [[space]] and [[time in physics|time]], [[relativity of simultaneity]], [[kinematics|kinematic]] and [[gravity|gravitational]] [[time dilation]], and [[length contraction]]. In the field of physics, relativity improved the science of [[elementary particle]]s and their fundamental interactions, along with ushering in the [[atomic age|nuclear age]]. With relativity, [[Physical cosmology|cosmology]] and [[astrophysics]] predicted extraordinary [[astronomy|astronomical phenomena]] such as [[neutron star]]s, [[black hole]]s, and [[gravitational wave]]s.<ref name="relativity"> {{cite encyclopedia |title=Relativity |encyclopedia=Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia |last=Will, Clifford M |date=2010 |url=http://gme.grolier.com/article?assetid=0244990-0 |access-date=2010-08-01 |archive-date=2020-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521004532/http://gme.grolier.com/article?assetid=0244990-0%2F }}</ref><ref name="spacetime"> {{cite encyclopedia |title=Space-Time Continuum |encyclopedia=Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia |last=Will, Clifford M |date=2010 |url=http://gme.grolier.com/article?assetid=0272730-0 |access-date=2010-08-01 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=fitz-loren> {{cite encyclopedia |title=Fitzgerald–Lorentz contraction |encyclopedia=Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia |last=Will, Clifford M |date=2010 |url=http://gme.grolier.com/article?assetid=0107090-0 |access-date=2010-08-01 |archive-date=25 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125105648/http://gme.grolier.com/article?assetid=0107090-0 }}</ref>
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