People believe in Albert Einstein's theory of light, known as the theory of relativity, over Isaac Newton's theory of light for several reasons. Here are a few key factors:
Experimental Evidence: Einstein's theory of relativity has been supported by a wide range of experimental evidence. One of the most famous experiments that confirmed Einstein's theory was the 1919 solar eclipse expedition, led by Sir Arthur Eddington, which observed the bending of light around the sun, as predicted by Einstein's general theory of relativity. This experimental confirmation provided strong empirical support for Einstein's ideas.
Consistency with Other Phenomena: Einstein's theory of relativity not only explained the behavior of light but also provided a comprehensive framework for understanding a broad range of physical phenomena. It successfully resolved several inconsistencies and shortcomings of Newtonian physics, including the behavior of objects moving at high speeds and in strong gravitational fields. By unifying space, time, and gravity into a single framework, Einstein's theory provided a more complete and internally consistent description of the universe.
Predictive Power: Einstein's theory of relativity made a number of novel predictions that were later confirmed through experimentation. For example, it predicted the existence of gravitational waves, which were observed for the first time in 2015. Additionally, the theory accurately described the observed precession of the perihelion of Mercury, a long-standing discrepancy that Newtonian physics failed to explain.
Conceptual Simplicity: Einstein's theory of relativity introduced a more elegant and conceptually simple framework for understanding the nature of light and its interaction with matter. It introduced the idea that the speed of light is constant in all inertial frames of reference, challenging the classical notion of absolute space and time. This conceptual shift led to a deeper understanding of the fundamental nature of the universe and its underlying principles.
Overall, the combination of experimental evidence, consistency with other phenomena, predictive power, and conceptual elegance has made Einstein's theory of light more widely accepted than Newton's theory. However, it is important to note that Newton's theory of light still holds value within its appropriate scope, such as for describing the behavior of light in everyday situations where relativistic effects are negligible.