Special and General Relativity Forum

Post thread
Join in expert discussion on special and general relativity discussion. Relativity is the dependence of various physical phenomena on relative motion of the observer and the observed objects.
  • Sticky
FAQ: Experimental Basis of Special Relativity
Replies
3
Views
62K
  • Sticky
Insights When Discussing the Twin Paradox: Read This First
Replies
2
Views
7K
  • Sticky
Insights Maxwell’s Equations in a Static, Spherically Symmetric Spacetime
Replies
15
Views
9K
  • Sticky
Insights An Introduction to the Generation of Mass from Energy
Replies
41
Views
17K
  • Sticky
Relativity Insights: FAQs on Photons, Gravity, Time Dilation, and More!
Replies
4
Views
22K
I A sufficient condition for integrability of equation ##\nabla g=0##
Replies
49
Views
961
I Follow-up Einstein Definition of Simultaneity for Langevin Observers
Replies
3
Views
292
I Follow-up on the Expanding Universe Insight article
Replies
2
Views
143
Insights Relativator (Circular Slide-Rule): Simulated with Desmos - Insight
Replies
1
Views
112
I How do Tensors "work" in relation to linear algebraic objects?
Replies
7
Views
184
I Confused about time dilation -- motion vs energy
Replies
9
Views
283
A 1-Way Speed of Light
Replies
42
Views
640
A Gravitational Analysis of Wide Binaries
Replies
13
Views
181
I Mass conservation in black holes
Replies
8
Views
955
B How can a black hole absorb matter?
Replies
31
Views
503
I Please explain how length contraction and time dilation result in a constant c
Replies
4
Views
122
I Can this experiment break Lorentz symmetry?
Replies
35
Views
434
I Conventionality of the One-Way Speed of Light
Replies
5
Views
320
I MTW exercise 21.26: junction conditions for a thin shell of dust
Replies
5
Views
157
I Eddington’s margin of error
Replies
4
Views
145
B Can frame dragging do this?
Replies
1
Views
72
I Understanding the historical shift away from absolute simultaneity
Replies
25
Views
306
A Is there any topology behind factor 2 in Schwarzschild radius?
Replies
11
Views
163
A Is the constancy of c a postulate or a derivable theorem?
Replies
13
Views
209
I How do non-diagonal indices of a metric allow for local flatness?
Replies
22
Views
330
I Transformation for Lemaitre coordinates
Replies
8
Views
198
B What reference frame is used for the velocity v in the Lorentz transformation?
2
Replies
53
Views
711
B Oberth Effect Near Sag A*
Replies
35
Views
1K
A Error in Landau-Lifshitz Vol 2, equation (2), page 277
Replies
10
Views
308
B Debating the Validity of a Conversion Factor for Mass-Energy Equivalence
Replies
13
Views
301
B Can an expanding EM be quantized: E=mc^2?
Replies
11
Views
216
I Gravitation (MTW) Misner Thorne Wheeler - 50 years (RIP) C.W.Misner
Replies
9
Views
1K
A A global energy conservation law in general relativity
Replies
36
Views
443
Help me understand why “Block Universe” is not scientifically proven
Replies
34
Views
3K
I Gravitational lensing of gravitational waves - real?
Replies
3
Views
241
A Uncertainties in the proof of Proposition 4.4.2 in Hawking and Ellis
Replies
2
Views
389
A Weinberg's proof of ##{T^{\mu\nu}}_{,\nu}=0## for a perfect fluid
Replies
2
Views
158
A How do you convert the Pound–Rebka redshift into time variation?
Replies
6
Views
181
B Relativistic contraction factor
Replies
8
Views
460
A Looking for linear frame dragging formula
Replies
3
Views
168
I Freefall and gravity
Replies
10
Views
255
A Dirac's "comprehensive action principle" -- independent equations
Replies
1
Views
174
B Time dilation for two clocks at different altitudes on Earth
Replies
14
Views
596
A Dirac's "GTR" Eq (27.4): how momentum ##p^\mu## varies
2
Replies
50
Views
2K
I How does GR deal with pointlike objects with mass?
Replies
5
Views
217
I Shwartzschild coordinate system
Replies
5
Views
338
I How to calculate basis vectors from metric tensor (as a matrix)?
Replies
6
Views
329
B Can Curved Spacetime Enable Faster-Than-Light Travel?
Replies
12
Views
3K
A Weyl tensor and coordinate acceleration
Replies
12
Views
2K
I With gravitational lensing, which way is down?
Replies
24
Views
535
A The Lagrangian of a free particle ##L=-m \, ds/dt##
Replies
3
Views
402
B Geometric and arithmetic means and contraction factor
Replies
6
Views
291
I Question about a Square Light Clock
Replies
8
Views
454
B Gravity and speed of information for orbiting planets
Replies
22
Views
481
B A question about warp bubbles and navigation
Replies
22
Views
580
A Question about Weinberg's GR book
Replies
5
Views
591
A Singularity Formation and Breakdown Ricci Tensor
Replies
3
Views
329
A The Causal Bootstrap Paradox in General Relativity
Replies
10
Views
494
I Theoretically, can perfectly flat spacetime exist in the Universe?
Replies
31
Views
2K
I Invariance of 4-velocity
Replies
11
Views
664
A Question on Dirac's derivatives of the 4-velocity w.r.t. coordinates
2
Replies
53
Views
2K
A Sidney Coleman's Lectures on Relativity: New Book by CUP
Replies
5
Views
3K
A New singularity theorem?
Replies
6
Views
547
A Tensors in null basis
Replies
9
Views
1K
I Another Time Dilation Question
Replies
23
Views
3K
I ##\epsilon_{ijk}## in terms of ##\delta's##
Replies
3
Views
540
B Does the gravitational distortion of mass still exist in the past?
Replies
28
Views
1K
I Missing proof of the Shell theorem in General Relativity
Replies
34
Views
1K
A A Question on the TOV Limit: Continuous Forces vs. a Discrete Trigger
Replies
10
Views
615
I Effect of Radiation Pressure on a Moving Object
Replies
31
Views
1K
A Does the EP imply that a free-falling observer follows a geodesic?
Replies
3
Views
496
I Temporal length vs. Temporal displacement
Replies
10
Views
1K
A Covariant form of Maxwell's (inhomogeneous) equations (in GR)
Replies
9
Views
639
A Error in Landau-Lifshitz Vol 2, Fig. 20, page 310
Replies
7
Views
635
A "TImescape" models
Replies
5
Views
893
B Mass of a gyroscope when rotating or not rotating
Replies
13
Views
642
B A photon always travels in a black hole
Replies
9
Views
1K
I Going Up-Down Elevator G-forces vs Bouncing off a Spring G-force
Replies
5
Views
586
B Michelson Morley experiment and the Doppler effect
Replies
21
Views
1K
B Relativity and Biological Aging: How Time Dilation Slows Cell Activity
Replies
14
Views
1K
A Minimal property of Spacelike geodesics in GR/curved spacetime?
2
Replies
76
Views
3K
B An issue about the twin paradox
Replies
24
Views
1K
B Can mass/energy simply be distorted spacetime?
Replies
9
Views
843
I Principle of relativity in the proof of invariance of interval
2
Replies
53
Views
5K
I Epstein diagrams and a traveling ship
Replies
17
Views
894
B Lorentz Transformation of Electric & Magnetic Fields Visualized
Replies
23
Views
4K
A Ricci tensor for Fermi normal coordinates
Replies
1
Views
740
B Time Travel: Is it Physically Possible? | Scientific American
Replies
13
Views
3K
I Question about geometrical engineering (placeholder name)
Replies
32
Views
2K
A "Looks" of gravitational wave emissions for an eclipsing ternary compact object?
Replies
1
Views
900
A Is parallel transport exactly norm-preserving or only approximately?
Replies
21
Views
973
B No object actually approaches the speed of light
Replies
9
Views
2K
I What does g00 element of the Schwarzschild metric tensor tell us?
Replies
28
Views
1K
B Can anything work (including human brains) inside a black hole?
Replies
22
Views
1K
I Integral subbundle of 6 KVFs gives a spacetime foliation by 3d hypersurfaces
Replies
22
Views
1K
I A textbook passage describing coordinate lines in physical space
Replies
4
Views
1K
B When I jump up and down what is the Einsteinian way to describe it?
Replies
39
Views
2K
I Twin Paradox Resolution
Replies
4
Views
1K
I Notion of parallel worldlines in curved geometry
Replies
5
Views
1K
B Question about “Inertia arises from interaction with the Universe’s mass”
Replies
13
Views
1K
A Reconciling units for the Einstein and Landau-Lifshitz pseudotensors
Replies
2
Views
879
A Landau-Lifshitz pseudotensor - expressing the EM tensor ##T^{ik}##
Replies
6
Views
1K
B Space travel and time dilation
Replies
15
Views
2K
I Where is the mass in a black hole?
Replies
8
Views
1K
I Can light be reflected in a black hole?
Replies
22
Views
1K

Relativity

The theory of relativity, formulated by Albert Einstein, comprises two fundamental theories—special and general relativity. Special relativity, proposed in 1905, redefines our understanding of space and time by asserting the constancy of the speed of light for all observers and introducing concepts like time dilation and length contraction.

General relativity, presented in 1915, extends these principles to incorporate gravity. It describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by massive objects, leading to phenomena like gravitational time dilation and the prediction of black holes. Einstein's equations have been consistently validated through experiments and observations, profoundly influencing our comprehension of the universe's fabric and dynamics.

Hot Threads

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top