Math 2.0

Relativity and gravitational theory Definition

Tests of general relativity

Builds on General relativityNewton's law of universal gravitationParameterized post-Newtonian formalismPerihelion precession of MercuryGravitational deflection of lightGravitational redshiftShapiro time delayFrame-draggingGeodetic effectGravitational wave

Definition

A test of general relativity is an observation or experiment whose result is predicted by general relativity and is compared with the measured value. The test is informative when the prediction of general relativity differs from that of Newtonian gravity or of a competing theory of gravity. The classical tests are the three tests proposed by Einstein:

  1. the perihelion precession of Mercury;
  2. the gravitational deflection of light by the Sun;
  3. the gravitational redshift of light.

Remarks

The Shapiro time delay of radar signals is often called the fourth classical test. Tests of frame-dragging and of the geodetic effect probe the rotation of gyroscopes in orbit. Strong-field tests use binary pulsars and gravitational waves from merging black holes. Weak-field results are often given as bounds on the parameters of the parameterized post-Newtonian formalism. For example, the deflection of light and the Shapiro delay both measure the parameter γ\gamma, which equals 11 in general relativity. A non-example is the measurement of the orbit of a planet to Newtonian accuracy only: it cannot tell the theories apart, so it does not test general relativity.

Reading path

To understand this page from the ground up, read these 78 pages in order. The foundations come first.

  1. Boyer–Lindquist coordinates concept
  2. Christoffel symbols concept
  3. Conic section concept
  4. Covariant derivative concept
  5. Derivative concept
  6. Differential equation concept
  7. Ellipse concept
  8. Elliptic function concept
  9. Euclidean space object
  10. Euclidean vector concept
  11. Fermi–Walker transport concept
  12. First integral concept
  13. Focus of a conic concept
  14. Function concept
  15. General relativity concept
  16. Geodesics in general relativity concept
  17. Gravitational wave concept
  18. Interval concept
  19. Jacobi field concept
  20. Kepler orbit concept
  21. Killing vector field concept
  22. Minkowski space concept
  23. Normal coordinates concept
  24. Ordinary differential equation concept
  25. Parameterized post-Newtonian formalism concept
  26. Precession concept
  27. Ricci curvature concept
  28. Riemann curvature tensor concept
  29. Spacetime concept
  30. Velocity concept
  31. Kepler problem example
  32. Fréchet derivative definition
  33. Cross product definition
  34. Ordinary differential equation definition
  35. Function of several variables concept
  36. Vector-valued function concept
  37. Lipschitz condition definition
  38. Classical mechanics concept
  39. Geodesic deviation equation statement
  40. Schwarzschild metric example
  41. Momentum concept
  42. Partial derivative concept
  43. Limit of a function of several variables concept
  44. Inertial frame of reference concept
  45. Kerr metric example
  46. Solution of an ordinary differential equation definition
  47. Kepler problem in general relativity problem
  48. Equivalence principle statement
  49. Shapiro time delay statement
  50. Newton's laws of motion statement
  51. Initial value problem definition
  52. Continuity in R^n definition
  53. Differentiable function of several variables definition
  54. Partial derivative definition
  55. Frame-dragging statement
  56. Gravitational redshift statement
  57. Perihelion precession of Mercury statement
  58. Differentiable on an open set definition
  59. Gradient definition
  60. Higher partial derivatives definition
  61. Picard–Lindelöf hypotheses definition
  62. Geodetic effect statement
  63. Iterated derivative definition
  64. Picard operator definition
  65. C^k function characterised by continuous derivatives statement
  66. Integral equation form of an initial value problem statement
  67. An iterate of the Picard operator is a contraction statement
  68. Picard–Lindelöf theorem statement
  69. Vector field definition
  70. Conservative vector field definition
  71. Classical mechanics definition
  72. Momentum definition
  73. Potential energy definition
  74. Angular momentum definition
  75. Central force definition
  76. Newton's law of universal gravitation statement
  77. Gravitational deflection of light statement
  78. Tests of general relativity definition

Further reading

  1. Web https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tests_of_general_relativity
About this page
Tag6VDJ4T3Y07
URIm2://6VDJ4T3Y07
Kinddefinition
WritingW0 stub
MSC83B05, 83C99
DefinesTests of general relativity
UsesGeneral relativity, Newton's law of universal gravitation, Parameterized post-Newtonian formalism, Perihelion precession of Mercury, Gravitational deflection of light, Gravitational redshift, Shapiro time delay, Frame-dragging, Geodetic effect, Gravitational wave
Changed3 November 2026

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