Sspd_chapter1_modern physics-foundation of solid state physics_part  (Page 3/5)

** The General Theory of Relativity predicts that the Space-Time Fabric is flat in absence of mass but presence of massive celestial bodies causes a curvature in this fabric. Hence it was predicted that a star behind the sun during a total solar eclipse will be seen shifted from its actual position by 1.7second of arc. Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington (1882-1944) went to Canary Islands and made actual observation of a star behind Sun during Total Solar Eclipse on 29 th May,1919. Next the same star was observed in absence of Sun. Near about 1.7second of an arc displacement was observed in the apparent and actual position of the star. This vindicated Einstein and his General Theory of Relativity.

In recent days the gravitational lensing effect of distant quasers has lent further support to the General Theory of Relativity.

The General Theory of Relativity gives the theoretical basis of precession of the perihelion of the planet mercury.

The General Theory of Relativity predicts Red Shift of light coming from massive body. This too has been correctly verified by observation.

*** The First Information Revolution was ushered in by the invention of Phoenician Alphabets which was the mother of all European Languages. The invention of the Rotating Press was the Gutenberg Revolution and the second Information Revolution.

The Computer Revolution is the Third Information Revolution. ]

A question which automatically arises at this point is that why the third World Countries did not witness Bourgeoisie Democratic Revolution. No general theory can be offered to explain this aberration but in context with India an explanation can be given.

India lies in Tropical Climatic Zone where the year round the weather is favorable for agriculture. We are able to grow most of our food and fodder requirements. Hence any form of Trade , land or mercantile trade, never held much significance for us. Whereas Foreign Trade is an important component of total Gross National Product of European Nations. Foreign Trade implies Mercantile Trade and Mercantile Trade means long Oceanic Voyages. Through these Oceanic Voyages Christopher Columbus reached the New World and Vascodagama discovered India, the golden bird, and Francis Drake navigated the whole World circumferentially.

The long Oceanic voyages compelled European Nations to invest heavily in Navigation Sciences in particular and in Science&Technology in general. This is how sextant and astrolabe were invented. Even after the Old Democratic Revolution, the healthy trend of patronizing and financing Science&Technology was maintained. As a result the credit of all the major Discoveries and Inventions went to Western and Japanese Scientists except for six which came to Indian Scientists.

These Scientific breakthroughs brought the European Nations on the path of Colonization through the Mercantile Trades which was a logical end.

Colonization led to a highly skewed economic development. The First World countries achieved a much higher level of prosperity than what they deserved whereas the Third World countries were pushed deeper and deeper into the mire of poverty and deprivation. The chasm between West and East has been widening ever since.