Recent experiments at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) have successfully demonstrated that antimatter falls under the influence of gravity, validating an aspect of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. Antimatter, which mirrors ordinary matter but possesses opposite electric charges, consists of antiparticles like positrons, antiprotons, and antineutrons. When antimatter and matter come into close proximity, they annihilate each other, releasing energy. General Relativity, proposed by Einstein, describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by massive objects. This groundbreaking confirmation further deepens our understanding of the fundamental principles governing the universe, including the behavior of antimatter.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Spacetime: Spacetime is a four-dimensional continuum that combines the three dimensions of space with the dimension of time. It is a fundamental concept in Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
- Gravitational Lensing: Gravitational lensing is a phenomenon predicted by General Relativity. It occurs when the gravitational field of a massive object, such as a galaxy cluster, bends and distorts the path of light from a more distant object, creating observable distortions or multiple images of the distant object.
- Annihilation: Annihilation is the process by which matter and antimatter particles come into contact and are converted into energy, often in the form of gamma rays or other elementary particles.
- Large Hadron Collider (LHC): The LHC is a massive particle accelerator located near Geneva, Switzerland, operated by CERN. It is used to accelerate particles to high speeds and study their behavior in collisions.
- Big Bang: The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological model that describes the origin of the universe. According to this theory, the universe began as a singularity and has been expanding ever since.
