ABSTRACT
Einstein’s aim in constructing his General Theory of Relativity was to develop a theory of gravity that is consistent with the results of his Special Theory of Relativity. This required Einstein to reject Newton’s theory of gravity. Newton’s theory implied that the force of gravity is propagated at an instantaneous or “infinitely fast” speed, which is inconsistent with Einstein’s postulate that the speed of light (186, 284 miles per second) cannot be exceeded. Further, Newton’s theory implied that the events connected by the instantaneous force of gravity were absolutely simultaneous, but Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity implied that simultaneity is relative.
