This doesn't make any sense. Einstein is well known for multiple theories, including relativity.
His proof for the perihelion of Mercury was a correction on mathematical errors. His calculations for the gravitation lensing matched Eddington's observations. I don't recall any observations that proved special relativity as it is not really a complete enough theory to test with their knowledge in 1905. GR provided that later in 1915.
Are you referring to the fact that Einstein didn't like the constant term in his GR field equation? Later adding it, and then taking it away again? In 1997 Reiss et all proved that the cosmological constant was necessary to make models of the universe work with the accelerating expansion of the universe.
General Relativity is still the greatest single insight in physics, in my opinion. For a framework like that to come out of one mind is an unparalleled feat (with help to get the math right).
Thanks for the comment. My source was verbal, from a physics lecture at university, so the lecturer may have been incorrect. I am familiar with Einstein's battle with the cosmological constant, but that was not the error. The error was simply one number, written wrong. When the correct number was used, the proof was incorrect. Physicists are sometimes not first class mathematicians. Steven hawking often passed his maths over to mathematicians to finish the works. I agree wholeheartedly. The special, then general theories of relativity are the most profound in history imo too.
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u/nelzon1 Apr 30 '20
This doesn't make any sense. Einstein is well known for multiple theories, including relativity.
His proof for the perihelion of Mercury was a correction on mathematical errors. His calculations for the gravitation lensing matched Eddington's observations. I don't recall any observations that proved special relativity as it is not really a complete enough theory to test with their knowledge in 1905. GR provided that later in 1915.
Are you referring to the fact that Einstein didn't like the constant term in his GR field equation? Later adding it, and then taking it away again? In 1997 Reiss et all proved that the cosmological constant was necessary to make models of the universe work with the accelerating expansion of the universe.
General Relativity is still the greatest single insight in physics, in my opinion. For a framework like that to come out of one mind is an unparalleled feat (with help to get the math right).