Our Elastic Spacetime: Black Holes and Gravitational Waves
Larry L. Smarr, William H. Press · 1978
The history of gravitation theories is reviewed first. It is noted that Einstein's theory uses the metric tensor as the gravitational field. An attempt is made to visualize the concept of curved space, and then the more subtle notion of curved time is addressed. Time passes at different rates at different places. To provide a time coordinate system, imaginary observers accelerate so as to remain as stationary as possible: space is incompressible. Evolving space-times are described, and the results of computer calculations for several cases including the collision of two black holes are shown. 7 figures. (RWR)