No, Albert Einstein did not replace his theory of special relativity with general relativity. In fact, general relativity builds upon the framework established by special relativity.
Einstein formulated the theory of special relativity in 1905, which revolutionized our understanding of space and time. It introduced the concept of spacetime, in which the laws of physics are invariant under Lorentz transformations, and it established the famous equation E=mc², relating energy and mass. Special relativity describes the behavior of objects moving at constant speeds in the absence of gravitational forces.
However, Einstein realized that special relativity did not account for the effects of gravity. He sought to develop a theory that could explain gravity as a curvature of spacetime. This led him to formulate the theory of general relativity, which he published in 1915. General relativity is an extension of special relativity and provides a new understanding of gravity.
In general relativity, Einstein proposed that the presence of mass and energy warps or curves the fabric of spacetime, and objects move along geodesics in this curved spacetime. Gravity is not seen as a force in the traditional sense but rather as a consequence of the curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy. General relativity not only explains the force of gravity as the curvature of spacetime but also predicts phenomena such as the bending of light around massive objects and the existence of black holes.
So, rather than replacing special relativity, Einstein expanded his theory to incorporate gravity, resulting in the theory of general relativity. Both special relativity and general relativity are considered fundamental pillars of modern physics and continue to be extensively tested and validated by experiments and observations.