Special Relativity: Constant Speeds or More Complex GRT?

[kent davidge]

I'm reading the online version of a book that says

SRT is only valid if observers move at fixed velocities with respect to each other. To handle observers whose relative velocities may vary requires the more general but also more complex GRT

Rindler observer comes right into my mind when I read this. So I think the book is wrong. What do you all think?

On a second guess, perhaps the author takes the view that SR is only for constant speeds in the same sense that one could say that Newtonian mechanics is only for inertial frames, in that only in inertial frames Newton's law works.

If that is the case, then the part I quoted above is not wrong.

 

[Dale]

Acceleration is fine. SR cannot handle tidal gravity.

 

[PeterDonis]

I'm reading the online version of a book

What book?

I think the book is wrong.

You think correctly.

perhaps the author takes the view that SR is only for constant speeds in the same sense that one could say that Newtonian mechanics is only for inertial frames, in that only in inertial frames Newton's law works

Newton's laws work fine in non-inertial frames; you just have to add fictitious forces.

 

[PeterDonis]

Thread closed for moderation.

 

[PeterDonis]

As noted, SR can handle non-inertial observers and non-inertial frames. It is limited only by the requirement that spacetime must be flat.

Thread will remain closed.