Tagged Questions

6
votes
2answers
146 views

What's the basic premise of General Relativity?

What is the basic assumption(s) required to explore general relativity? For example, if one merely assumes that the speed of light $c$ is the same for all observers, and the laws of physics are the ...
0
votes
1answer
46 views

accelerated elevator vs remaining at rest in a elevator with a gravitational field? [closed]

When an elevator accelerated with a uniform acceleration, speed of elevator increases uniformly, what about elevator that remaining at rest in a gravitational field? where acceleration is constant ...
1
vote
1answer
69 views

Why four velocity under covariant differential is considered to be zero?

In Einstein's general theory of relativity the elements of four velocity $U^{\mu} (\gamma c, \gamma v)$ under covariant differential is considered to be zero, why? $$\mathcal{D} U^{\mu}=0$$ in other ...
4
votes
2answers
203 views

How (or why) equivalence principle led to Einstein field equations?

If equivalence principle was origin of general relativity what was the process that this principle led Einstein to developed his theory of general relativity?
0
votes
1answer
91 views

Space time curvature real or theoretical (mathematical)?

Assuming one were in a capsule of some kind, with no window or instruments, and you swung into the gravitational field of a massive object (planet). Assuming no atmosphere to provide friction, could ...
2
votes
1answer
112 views

Privileged coordinate system (or lack thereof) in general relativity

What does the following statement mean and why is it true? The Weak Equivalence Principle (WEP) implies that in general curved space-time there is no privileged coordinate system. I have looked ...
0
votes
0answers
43 views

Switching from an accelerated frame of reference to a locally inertial reference system

Using the equivalence principle, show that the interval for an accelerated observer ($\textbf{g}$ uniform and constant) has the form $$ ds^2|_{\text{first order in ...
1
vote
0answers
109 views

Use of Principle of Equivalence

Let $x^\mu$ be the coordinates of a reference frame, $K$, where all bodies feel the same constant and uniform acceleration $\textbf{a}=\textbf{g}=-\nabla\varphi$; let $\xi^\mu$ be the coordinates of a ...
2
votes
4answers
162 views

Equivalence principle question

I understand the equivalence principle as "The physics in a freely-falling small laboratory is that of special relativity (SR)." But I'm not quite sure why this is equivalent to "One cannot tell ...
0
votes
1answer
134 views

Why does weak equivalence principle say gravity is equivalent to acceleration?

I am told that the weak equivalent principle, that $m_i=m_g$ (inertial and gravitational masses are equivalent) is equivalent to the statement that in a small system you can't tell whether you are in ...
2
votes
1answer
155 views

What's the difference between the equivalence principle and curvature of spacetime?

Calculating using the equivalence principle only accounts for half the deflection of light, whereas the other half is from curvature of space-time. But isn't the equivalence principle the same thing ...
2
votes
3answers
636 views

How did Einstein derive general relativity?

How did Einstein derive general relativity (GR)? Did he use: the equivalence principle? The principle of least action? Anything else? Note, I'm not looking for a full mathematical derivation of GR! ...
1
vote
1answer
94 views

Are there any well-known theories successfully unifying the inertial and gravitational mass?

From what little I know of general relativity, the equality of inertial and gravitational mass is an axiom of the theory. I suspect that this precludes GR from unifying them in the same sense as ...
1
vote
1answer
322 views

Curvature of spacetime in only required to explain tidal forces?

I'm a bit confused about the equivalence principle in GR. I'm quoting from Wikipedia: An observer in an accelerated reference frame must introduce what physicists call fictitious forces to ...
5
votes
2answers
422 views

Why do objects follow geodesics in spacetime?

Trying to teach myself general relativity. I sort of understand the derivation of the geodesic equation ...
7
votes
2answers
279 views

Equivalence principle and radiation from falling particle

I am currently having a hard time solving a problem of GR from Lasenby's book. I can't make it more clear than by quoting the exercise: 7.2 A charged object held stationary in a laboratory on the ...
2
votes
3answers
186 views

Why can't we think of free fall as upside down rocket?

/\ / \ | | | m | | | ------ <--- floor (Rocket A) This rocket is accelerated (g) upwards then mass(m) falls on the floor. ...
1
vote
1answer
312 views

How does Newton's 2nd law correspond to GR in the weak field limit?

I can only perform the demonstration from the much simpler $E = mc^2$. Take as given the Einstein field equation: $G_{\mu\nu} = 8 \pi \, T_{\mu\nu}$ ... can it be proved that Newton's formulation ...
1
vote
4answers
244 views

Freefall in/out of an enclosed environment

I've just been learning about Einstein, relativity, and the equivalence principle in Physics. I'm fascinated with the idea of being inside a free-falling enclosed environment (such as, e.g., rocket, ...
2
votes
1answer
238 views

Why dynamic Casimir effect does not appear in static gravity field?

Dynamic Casimir effect tells us that a constantly-accelerated mirror should emit radiation due to interaction with vacuum. Following principle of equivalence, a similar mirror placed in static ...
4
votes
3answers
258 views

Is the equivalence principle strictly fulfilled by general relativity?

The equivalence principle states The outcome of any local experiment in a freely falling laboratory is independent of the velocity of the laboratory and its location in spacetime. Any real local ...
3
votes
4answers
562 views

Einstein's “happiest thought”

Einstein described his discovery of the equivalence principle as the "happiest thought of my life". Why? What, in broad conceptual terms, is the logical chain of reasoning that leads from the ...
3
votes
5answers
534 views

How are the comoving coordinates NOT a prefered reference frame?

Physics me this: The equivalence principle has rigorous physical definitions that say, for one, that the laws of physics are the same in all inertial reference frames. This is to say that the ...
0
votes
1answer
181 views

Is relativistic motion equivalent to fluctuating gravitational fields?

The theory of relativity makes very precise predictions about how an object's motion through space-time affects the passage of time for both the object and observers in other frames of reference. I ...
1
vote
2answers
212 views

Can the equivalence principle be tested to high precision in a human-sized lab falling through the horizon of a black hole, in principle?

Can the equivalence principle be tested to high precision in a human-sized lab falling through the horizon of a black hole, in principle? By "human-sized lab" I mean a lab the size of the ...
6
votes
4answers
668 views

Is there a fundamental reason why gravitational mass is the same as inertial mass?

The principle of equivalence - that, locally, you can't distinguish between a uniform gravitational field and a noninertial frame accelerating in the sense opposite to the gravitational field - is ...
6
votes
8answers
455 views

Gravity theories with the equivalence principle but different from GR

Einstein's general relativity assumes the equivalence of acceleration and gravitation. Is there a general class of gravity theories that have this property but disagree with general relativity? Will ...
1
vote
9answers
2k views

How does this thought experiment not rule out black holes?

How does the following brief thought experiment fail to show that general relativity (GR) has a major problem in regards to black holes? The full thought experiment is in my blog post. The post ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views

Does the equivalence between inertial and gravitational mass imply anything about the Higgs mechanism?

For example: the role it might play in a theory of quantum gravity (ie causing space-time curvature)? I realize that inertial mass can result from binding energy alone. Has the equivalence principle ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views

Why is the equivalence principle so important to general relativity?

In its simplest form, equivalence principle states that the inertial mass and the gravitational mass should be the same. This is easy to understand. But why is it so important to the formulation of ...