Notice one thing Neither Newton nor Einstein actually explained the mechanics. However, in any case we certainly rely on the foundation laid out by Einstein. We may apply certain formulas and related mathematical methods which had been established within Newtonian mechanics today only as far as formulas of Einsteinian mechanics could be made to mimick them for instance in suitable circumstances involving speeds much smaller than $c$, or curvature only as small as may be found in 'our solar system'.Īn advantage is that the relevant formulas tend to be mathematically simpler than those of 'full blown RT'. If so, why we apply Newtonian mechanics even today? Newton, on the other hand, certainly had not provided any actual solution to the problem which makes doubtful that he had even recognized the problem at all. Well - along the way, Einstein recognized that a definition of how to measure 'simultaneity' is necessary and he provided his famous concrete definition.

Rather, Einstein recognized where Newton had (largely) been 'not even wrong'.Įinstein demanded and (partially) provided definitions of notions, especially relating to geometry or kinematics, such as how to measure 'straightness', 'distances', 'speeds', 'curvature' which Newton had used (or relied on being 'in some sense negligible') without any general definition, but at best only by appeal to some parochial artefacts (such as particularities of 'our solar system').īecause Newton said that time is absolute and Einstein suggested it relative? $$ t' = rac$) is uniquely defined by this requirement.ĭid Einstein completely prove Newton wrong? According to Einstein, time depends on the observer but time $t'$ according to one observer is expressed as a function of time $t$ of another observer as In physics, it is often true that theories or theoretical paradigms with vastly, 'qualitatively' different assumptions and 'pictures to imagine what is going on' yield virtually indistinguishable predictions, and Newton's vs Einstein's physics is the simplest example of that.Īccording to Newton, for example, time was absolute.

Einstein it's all relative