Physical Science

Quarter 2 – Module 15
General Theory of Relativity
Physical Science
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 2 – Module 15: General Theory of Relativity
First Edition 2020

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 Physical Science
Quarter 2 – Module 15
General Theory of Relativity
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Physical Science Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on

General Theory of Relativity!
This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators both
from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in helping
the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming
their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration their
needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage
their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

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For the learner:
Welcome to the Physical Science Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on
General Theory of Relativity!
The hand is one of the most symbolic parts of the human body. It is often used to
depict skill, action and purpose. Through our hands, we may learn, create and
accomplish. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that as a learner, you
are capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant competencies and
skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in your own hands!
This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for
guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to
process the contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.
This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

What I Need to Know This will give you an idea of the skills or
competencies you are expected to learn in the
module.

What I Know This part includes an activity that aims to

check what you already know about the
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correctly (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.

What’s In This is a brief drill or review to help you link

the current lesson with the previous one.

What’s New In this portion, the new lesson will be

introduced to you in various ways such as a
story, a song, a poem, a problem opener, an
activity or a situation.

What is It This section provides a brief discussion of the

lesson. This aims to help you discover and
understand new concepts and skills.

What’s More This comprises activities for independent

practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic. You may check the
answers to the exercises using the Answer
Key at the end of the module.

What I Have Learned This includes questions or blank

sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process
what you learned from the lesson.

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 What I Can Do This section provides an activity which will
help you apply your new knowledge or skill
into real life situations or concerns.

Assessment This is a task which aims to evaluate your

level of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.

Additional Activities In this portion, another activity will be given

to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of the
lesson learned. This also tends retention of
learned concepts.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the

module.

At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in developing

this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.
We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and
gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

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 What I Need to Know

Welcome to this module! This is where you will have a further

understanding of one of Albert Einstein’s contributions in the study of Science
specifically in Physics. Few of those are his idea about time and space, gravity,
energy, and motion which became the basis of different applications in technology
today. Here, we will focus on his Theory of General Relativity. Don’t worry. This
module will provide easy and simple explanation about the concepts just right for
you. Make sure that you will answer the pre-test, the different activities provided and
the assessment to determine your progress.

This module focuses on Einstein’s General Theory Relativity.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. state Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity and its postulates;
2. explain the consequences of the postulates of general relativity; and
3. give examples where General Theory of Relativity was applied.

Albert Einstein was really a genius himself in figuring out the relationship of space
and time as well as the forces present in our surroundings. Maybe most of us are
wondering, how come he can think like that. Or maybe some of us wanted to be as
intelligent as him. Well, who knows, you might be the one following his footsteps.

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 What I Know

Choose the letter of the correct answer in each item and write it on a separate sheet
of paper.

1. This is a force that pulls the objects with mass together.

a. gravity
b. magnet
c. motion
d. weight

2. According to General Theory of Relativity, which of the following causes curve in

space?
a. energy
b. force
c. gravity
d. mass

3. This is a region in space in which gravity is too strong that even light cannot
escape.
a. accretion disc
b. black hole
c. gravitational wave
d. singularity

4. Which of the following does NOT belong to the consequences of postulates of

General Relativity?
a. bending of light
b. black hole
c. constant speed of light in a vacuum and observers
d. precession of the Mercury

5. This is a disturbance in the regular elliptical movement pattern of a certain

celestial body.
a. perturbation
b. precession
c. revolution
d. rotation

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6. Which planet is said to be most affected by the gravitational force of the sun?
a. Earth
b. Mars
c. Mercury
d. Venus

7. Which of the following is TRUE about black hole?

a. The black hole will suck up its neighbouring objects.
b. The gravitational force is too weak for the light to pass through.
c. The time slows down when compared to time on Earth.
d. The wavelength will get shorter so as the frequency.

8. Which of the following was explained by General Theory of Relativity?

a. force
b. gravity
c. mass
d. light

9. According also to the theory of general relativity, which of the following best
explains the sudden curve of light that travels in straight path?
a. something blocks on its ways
b. the source of light is coming from a stationary object
c. a strong gravitational force exerted
d. when coming from a moving object

10. Which of the following theory explains about gravity?

a. evolution
b. motion
c. general relativity
d. special relativity

11. He published the General Theory of Relativity in November 1915.

a. Albert Einstein
b. Galileo Galilei
c. Isaac Newton
d. James Maxwell

12. This is an increase in the wavelength of electromagnetic wave once it gets near
from a massive object.
a. Doppler effect
b. gravitational redshift
c. singularity
d. space warping

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13. According to the Theory of Relativity, this is the point when an object that
becomes black hole must collapse.
a. event of horizon
b. space-time
c. singularity
d. warping

14. What do you mean by space-time?

a. Space with existence of gravity
b. The time it takes for a light to travel in
space
c. Three dimension of space with
existence of gravity
d. Fused three dimensions of space and
one dimension if time leading to four
dimensional

15. What is the reason of the shifting orbit of planet Mercury?

a. It is the first planet near to the sun.
b. It rotates faster on its axis so the orbit is affected.
c. Its composition affects its motion.
d. It is too close to the sun that its strong gravitational field affects its motion.

Lesson Einstein’s General Theory

1 Relativity
Imagine a soft bed where you can lay your back and relax. But because of its
softness, it depresses as you jump on it trying to lay down. Why?? Because
your weight pushes the bed downward. This is likewise how Albert Einstein
explains his theory on how space can be affected by the mass of an object. He
said that when a mass is placed in space, the space will get curved. The
diagram below shows that when a certain object with mass hits a surface, it
created a curve.

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 What’s In

Identify and arrange the jumbled words described in each number.

1. The slowing down of time as seen by observer relative to a reference frame.

MITE L I T O A D I N - __________________________

2. Speed of moving object with direction.

V L C I Y T E O- __________________________

3. The change in velocity of moving object- __________________________

C C A E I T O N A R E L__________________________

4. A theory that explains the relationship between space and time.

S L A E I C P Y T T I V I R E A L- __________________________

5. It is the shortening of the measured length of a moving object relative to the

observer’s reference frame.
L T H E GN O I N C R T C A T O N-________________________.

The Theory of Special Relativity and General Theory of Relativity are interrelated to
one another. Both are useful in studying cosmology and astronomy where space-
time, gravity, and forces of nature are the focus. In the previous lesson, you have
learned about Albert Einstein and the two postulates under special relativity.

First Postulates

It states that the law of Physics is the same in all inertial reference frames. Inertial
reference frames mean that the object is at rest and remain at rest (0 net) or a moving
body with constant velocity (no acceleration). An example of this is when you are
riding an airplane. Let us assume that the airplane is the reference frame and is
moving in a straight path with constant velocity. You dropped an object from your
lap down to the floor of the plane. Since the airplane moves in a constant velocity,
the falling object fell in the same way with same height and time as if it fell when the
airplane is at rest in the ground. Same law of falling objects governs the falling object
inside the plane with constant velocity and the falling object inside the plane when
it is not moving.

Airplane moving at Airplane on the ground

constant velocity (at rest) constant velocity
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Second Postulate

The second postulate states that the speed of light in vacuum is the same for all
observers regardless of its source. Back then, we are aware that the speed of light is
300,000,000 m/s. It just tells that when it comes to light, speed is always constant
taking into consideration that it is in a vacuum or empty space because it would be
different when light passes into a different medium.

Special Relativity is involved only in a situation where inertial frame of reference is

not accelerating. In this case, only time and distance change known to be as time
dilation and length contraction.

What’s New

Word Hunt
Find and circle the word/s being described in the statement below. Then, write the
word/s found after each statement.

M D S W E N G M O S A P

E F F E F R Q P F E T R

R C C C A D G M C B F E

C R F V A B N A G T I C

U S I T U V P C W I H E
R T M A S S D V B M S S

Y W X Y T Z A B N E D S

D B L A C K H O L E E I

W A V E L E N G T H R O

P E R T U R B A T I O N

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1. A three-dimensional extent in which objects and events have relative position and
direction. ________________

2. The amount of matter in an object ________________

3. This is a force that pulls the objects with mass together. ________________

4. The part of existence that is measured in minutes, days and years. ______________

5. Change in the orientation of the rotational axis of a rotating body. _______________.

6. A disturbance in the regular elliptical movement of a celestial body. _____________

7. This is a region in space in which gravity is too strong that even light cannot
escape. ____________.
8. The nearest planet said to be affected by the sun’s gravitational force. ____________
9. A part of wave which is described as the distance between two adjacent points.
___________
10.It is the displacement of the spectrum of an astronomical object toward longer
wavelengths which is red.

What is It

General Theory of Relativity was formulated by Albert Einstein in 1915 when he

found out that mass causes space to curve and space causes mass to move. In space,
massive object like stars, planets, and black holes possess gravitational field which
will create curvature in space-time. That curvature will control how the objects in
that space-time move. This theory is only applied for those that have a very large
mass. There are phenomena which could support that there is warping happening
in space-time due to the gravity exerted by a massive object.

Consequences of General Relativity

Shifting of Mercury’s Orbit

Mercury revolves around the sun in an elliptical manner. Since Mercury is the
first planet and nearest to the sun, it was assumed that the sun’s gravitational
field is the reason why there is a precession (change in the orientation of the
rotational axis) and perturbation (disturbance in the regular elliptical movement)
of Mercury. Look at the diagram below. It represents Mercury’s shifting orbit.

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 Gravitational Bending of Light

Since the strong gravitational field of a massive object causes distortion in the
space, the light that travels in that region will follow its curved path resulting to
bending of light. An example of which is the light emitted by a star and the sun
that is so massive causing the light to bend slightly.

Black Hole

From the previous lesson, we learned that black hole is one of the life stages of star
- it collapses as it runs out of fuel. Black hole has no size at all, no volume, and has
indefinite density. This is known as singularity. Black hole also has a boundary called

8
event horizon wherein events inside the boundary has no effect outside. The presence
of strong gravity is the reason why even light cannot escape from it even radio wave
signal. One misconception about black hole is that it sucks up all the objects in the
space. Well, that is not really the case, unless you can penetrate in the event horizon.
But of course it is way impossible. How does it feel falling in a black hole? Einstein’s
idea of relativity explains that there is a different perception between the observer
away from the black hole and the one falling into it. The observer may see that there
is faster rate of falling into it but as one approaches the event horizon time will slow
down and eventually stops. That’s why it is called relativity, which means that what
we observe depends on the frame of reference.

Strong curvature due to strong

gravity seems like a deep pit.

Gravitational waves
It is said that when massive object accelerates, it will create gravitational wave.
Gravitational wave is any disturbance in the curvature of space-time brought by
massive acceleration of an object. This wave is more prominent to a space where
massive celestial objects undergo also a massive acceleration. When this massive
object moves, it will change the curves in space-time producing a ripple. That is
gravitational wave. The picture below shows two black hole that seems like
interacting, thus their strong gravitational field created a ripple as they move.

Gravitational Redshift

It was mentioned earlier that time slows down as an object moves towards the area
of a massive object with high gravitational field like black hole. Same as when the
light passes and follow the pattern of curvature in space-time, then light bended.
Light is an electromagnetic spectrum with different properties, like having trough,
crest, wavelength, and frequency. Now, when the light moves against the

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gravitational field, time slows down and as it slows down, there will be a change in
the wavelength and frequency of the light wave. Notice in the diagram that frequency
decreases lead to longer wavelength. This increase in wavelength due to the effect of
gravity is what we call as gravitational redshift.

Answer the following questions:

1. Why is it impossible for the light to escape in a black hole?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. What causes the light to bend when it passes near a massive object like the sun?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. Explain why planet Mercury shows a precession in its perihelion?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the implication of strong gravitational force to time and wavelength of a
spectrum in space-time?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. Explain briefly Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

What’s More

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Put a check mark inside the box if the statement is correct and a cross mark
if not.

1. The General Theory of Relativity explains the effect of gravity in space-time.

2. Isaac Newton’s idea about the Theory of Relativity paved way to modern
Physics.
3. Gravitational redshift is the effect of the motion that produces longer
wavelength.
4. Black hole sucks everything near to it.

5. Time slows down in an area where gravitational field is strong.

6. The wavelength of light spectrum becomes shorter as it moves against the

gravitational field.
7. The disturbance in space-time brought by rapid acceleration of massive
object is called gravitational wave.
8. Albert Einstein’s idea about relativity is that everything moves relative to
everything else.
9. Gravitational wave can also be observed on Earth.

10.One of the consequences of General Theory of Relativity is the orbit of

Venus.

What I Have Learned

Read the paragraph then fill in the blanks with the correct word/s.

According to 1._________________ the mass of the object causes 2.___________

in space-time. This theory explains the presence of 3.____________ which pulls two
objects towards each other. 4. ________________ who gave his time and effort in
studying about the interrelationship of special relativity and general relativity.
Evidences have shown that his idea is more accurate. It is said that planet
5. ____________ was observed and had shown that there were changes in its
movement. This is known as 6._______________ of Mercury. Another one is when light
travels in a region where gravity is strong, the light 7._____________. In a black hole,
it is said that time is 8. ___________ due to strong magnetic field.
It is associated with wavelength. When time slows down, the 9. ____________ becomes
longer. This effect is known as 10. _____________.

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 What I Can Do

You may be asking why we need to study about relativity. What is its importance in
our daily life? Or why do we have to be aware about this concept? For this activity,
you are going to cite three examples on how relativity is applied and what is its use.
An example is given for you.
Ex: GPS (Global Positioning System)
Use in tracking location and position.

1._______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3.________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write the chosen letter on
a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following best explains the General Theory of Relativity?

a. All laws of Physics are applicable to all.
b. The speed of light is always constant.
c. The mass curves space-time.
d. Energy can’t be destroyed.

2. Which of the following is NOT TRUE about black hole?

a. Black hole is the remnant of a star that collapsed.
b. Black hole slows down time.

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 c. Black hole has a very high gravitational field.
d. Black hole sucks up everything.

3. What is the tendency of light that passes by the sun and heads toward Earth?
a. The sun absorbs the light.
b. The mass of the sun deflects the motion of light.
c. The strong gravitational field of the sun makes the light bend.
d. Light is reflected away from the Earth.

4. According to Einstein, what is the reason why gravity exist?

a. existence of black hole
b. mass of object
c. motion of light
d. nuclear force

5. Any disturbance in the curvature of space-time produce ripples once they

accelerate and move
a. black hole
b. gravitational wave
c. gravitational redshift
d. perturbation

6. What will happen to time, frequency, and wave length when moving against
gravitational field?
a. There will be a rapid time resulting to increase of frequency and wavelength.
b. Time slows down and the frequency decreases as wavelength becomes longer.
c. Time slows down so the frequency increases and has longer wavelength.
d. Frequency decreases and wavelength becomes short as time slows down.

7. This is known as the increase in wavelength due to the effect of gravity.

a. black hole
b. gravitational wave
c. gravitational redshift
d. bending of light

8. This the speed of light which is constant relative to the frame of reference.
a. 300,000,000m/s
b. 300,000 m/s
c. 3,000,000 m/s
d. 3,000 m/s

9. How many postulates are there in Albert Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity?
a. 1
b. 2

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 c. 3
d. 4

10. What is it in the General Theory of Relativity that does not involve the special
relativity?
a. acceleration
b. electromagnetism
c. gravity
d. mass

11. Which of the following about relativity is NOT TRUE?

a. Mass causes curvature into the space.
b. Everything moves relative to everything else.
c. What we can see and observe depends on frame of reference.
d. There is no interrelation between special relativity and general relativity.

12. Which is NOT involved in a postulate of special relativity theory?

a. The law of Physics is the same in all inertial reference frames.
b. Energy is equivalent to mass.
c. The speed of light in vacuum is the same for all observers.
d. An observer in accelerating reference frame cannot distinguish from stationery
reference frame.

13. A change in the orientation of the rotational axis of rotating body

a. perturbation
b. precession
c. revolution
d. rotation

14. General relativity predicts a number of phenomena EXCEPT:

a. constant acceleration of massive object
b. bending of light
c. gravitational redshift
d. precession of Mercury

15. Which of the following theory states that there is a constant speed of light in an
inertial frame?
a. inertial relativity
b. general relativity
c. specific relativity
d. special relativity

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 Additional Activities

I. Complete the concept map below by filling out the boxes with answers in relation
to the concept at the center.

What is it? non-examples

General Theory
of Relativity

Examples What is it like?

II. Construct a meaningful statement related to the concept you have learned in this
module using the words found inside the box.

1. gravity 2.light 3. mass 4. wave 5. time

Answers

1._____________________________________________________________________________

2._____________________________________________________________________________

3. _____________________________________________________________________________

4. _____________________________________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________________________________

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 16
What Is it
1.Black hole has
What’s What’s New What’s In What I
strong gravity
More 2.Due to 1. Space 1. Time Know
gravitational 2. Mass dilation 1. a
field 3. Gravity 2. velocity 2. d
1. 4. Time 3.
3. It is affected 3. b
2. X by the sun’s 5. Precession acceleration
3. X 6. 4. special 4. c
gravity
4. X Perturbation relativity 5. a
4. Time slows
down and the 7. Black hole 5. length 6. c
5. 8. Mercury contraction 7. c
wavelength gets
6. X longer when 9. 8. b
7. near to high Wavelength 9. c
gravitational 10. Redshift
8. 10. c
field 11. a
9. 5. It explains
12. b
10. X how mass
curves space 13. c
due to the 14. d
presence of 15. d
gravity
Answer Key
 17
What I can do
Additional Assessment What I Have
(students’
Activities 1. c answer may Learned
I. Students’ 2. d vary) 1. General
answer may 3. c relativity
vary 4. b 1. Electricity 2. Curve/
II. Students’ 5. b 2. Appliances curvature
answer may 6.b 3. Nuclear 3. Gravity
vary 7. c power 4. Albert
1. Gravity is 8. a Einstein
caused by the 9. b 5. Mercury
mass of an object 10. c 6. Precession
2. The curves 7. Bends
11. d
in space is due 8.slow
12. b
to mass 9. Wavelength
13. b
3. Light has 10.
14. a
constant speed Gravitational
4. Wave is a 15. d redshift
disturbance in
space
5. Time slows
down in black
hole.
References
C-K12.”General Theory of Relativity”. Accessed June 5, 2020.
https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/ck-12-physics-flexbook-
2.0/section/20.11/primary/lesson/the-theory-of-general-relativity-phys

Kurtos, Ron. “Mini-Quiz: General Relativity Theory of Gravitation”. School of

Champions”. December 17, 2018. https://www.school-for-
champions.com/science/mini-quiz_gravitation_relativity.htm#.Xt-2aRozbIV

Ligo Caltech. “Sources and Types of Gravitational Wave”. Accessed June 8, 2020
https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/page/gw-sources

Lumen. “Tests of General Relativity”. Accessed June 8, 2020.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/astronomy/chapter/tests-of-general-
relativity

Redd, Nola Taylor. “Einstein Theory of General Relativity”. Space.com, November

7,2017. https://www.space.com/17661-theory-general-relativity.html

“Relativity and Black Holes Consequences of General Relativity”. Accessed June 5,

2020.https://faculty.etsu.edu/gardnerr/planetarium/relat/conseq.htm

Smith, Gene. “General Relativity and Black holes “. University of California San Diego
Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, March 9, 2000,
https://casswww.ucsd.edu/archive/public/tutorial/GR.html

Wikipedia. “Gravitational Redshift”. Updated last May 26, 2020.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_redshift

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