Early astronomical tests of general relativity: the gravitational deflection of light

Article


Treschman, Keith John. 2014. "Early astronomical tests of general relativity: the gravitational deflection of light." Asian Journal of Physics. 23 (1 & 2), pp. 145-170.
Article Title

Early astronomical tests of general relativity: the gravitational deflection of light

Article CategoryArticle
Authors
AuthorTreschman, Keith John
Journal TitleAsian Journal of Physics
Journal Citation23 (1 & 2), pp. 145-170
Number of Pages26
Year2014
Place of PublicationIndia
Web Address (URL)http://asianjournalofphysics.in/content2/vol-23-no-1n2
Abstract

One of three astronomical tests of the general relativity theory of Einstein was the gravitational deflection of light. The British total solar eclipse of 1919 is lauded in history as having decided the case in favour of Einstein. This conclusion is questioned in the light of the philosophy of Science and the method employed to analyse the results. The case is put that more emphasis ought be placed on the outcome of the 1922 total solar eclipse in Australia where eight parties attempted measurements of light deflection in the vicinity of the Sun. Importance is attached to Campbell of the Lick Observatory, camped at Western Australia. His results were not completed until 1928. Other leaders, their affiliation and place of observation were Spencer Jones of the Royal Greenwich Observatory on Christmas Island, Freundlich for a German-Dutch expedition to Christmas Island, Evershed of the Kodaikanal Observatory in India also set up in Western Australia, Chant of the University of Toronto measuring at Western Australia, Dodwell of the Adelaide Observatory in a remote part of South Australia and Cooke from the Sydney Observatory and Baldwin of the Melbourne Observatory both in Queensland.

Keywordsgeneral relativity, history of astronomy
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020510105. General relativity and gravitational waves
519999. Other physical sciences not elsewhere classified
Public Notes

Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions.

Byline AffiliationsSchool of Agricultural, Computational and Environmental Sciences
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q2vw1/early-astronomical-tests-of-general-relativity-the-gravitational-deflection-of-light

  • 1795
    total views
  • 8
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Astronomical tests of general relativity
Treschman, Keith John. 2015. Astronomical tests of general relativity. PhD Thesis Doctor of Philosophy. University of Southern Queensland.
Recent astronomical tests of general relativity
Treschman, Keith John. 2015. "Recent astronomical tests of general relativity." International Journal of Physical Sciences. 10 (2), pp. 90-105. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJPS2014.4236
General relativity support from the double pulsar
Treschman, Keith John. 2015. "General relativity support from the double pulsar." International Journal of Physical Sciences. 10 (15), pp. 456-465. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJPS2015.4382
Early astronomical tests of general relativity: the anomalous advance in the perihelion of Mercury and gravitational redshift
Treschman, Keith John. 2014. "Early astronomical tests of general relativity: the anomalous advance in the perihelion of Mercury and gravitational redshift." Asian Journal of Physics. 23 (1 & 2), pp. 171-188.
Starspots on the active young solar-type star AH Lep
Treschman, Keith. 2010. Starspots on the active young solar-type star AH Lep. Masters Thesis Master of Science. University of Southern Queensland.