Blog030

Albert Einstein's interpretation of the failed experiment was unique. He thought
there might be some other explanation for the data, irregardless of the existence
of ether. His explanation required for the possibility that if light remained
constant, then both space and time must be changing in a rubbery fashion. In other
words, time could dilate or augment while matter contracted or diminished.
Interpreting the experimental data in light of this theory, the results made sense,
but they also implied the existence of a flexible space-time continuum that could
shrink or stretch. In this continuum, neither time nor space could exist alone as
they were immutably combined into a single fabric. In an instant, the whole
universe changed and the concept of relativity was born.

Einstein first presented his special theory of relativity with no inertial forces,
which simply defines the fabric of the space-time continuum. For our purposes,
just imagine a large beach towel stretched out at its four corners and floating
above the ground. This canvas represents a piece of space-time.

Later Einstein developed the general theory of relativity. This theory dealt with
gravity and inertial fields. In simple terms, if you place a bowling ball on your
imaginary floating fabric of space-time, the mass of the ball warps the fabric. Part
of the fabric stretches into a well or saddle shape conforming itself to the shape of
the ball. Likewise, if you now place another ball, say a cannon ball, on the fabric;
it too will warp the continuum according to its mass. If the two balls get close
enough to each other they will affect each other. Their space-time warps interact,
reinforcing or opposing each other, just as waves interact when you drop two
stones near each other in the water. This leads to the idea that gravity is not a
force but a resultant of two mathematical vectors interacting in the continuum.

From Einstein's point of view, Newton is not wrong. He's just not completely
right. Newton's 17th century math still works in the 20th century, but Einstein's
theories can explain WHY it works and give a clearer picture of WHAT is really
going on in the universe. What has all this got to do with music?