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From continuum mechanics to general relativity

Boehmer, CG; Downes, RJ; (2014) From continuum mechanics to general relativity. International Journal of Modern Physics D , 23 (12) , Article 1442015. 10.1142/S0218271814420152. Green open access

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Abstract

Using ideas from continuum mechanics we construct a theory of gravity. We show that this theory is equivalent to Einstein's theory of general relativity; it is also a much faster way of reaching general relativity than the conventional route. Our approach is simple and natural: we form a very general model and then apply two physical assumptions supported by experimental evidence. This easily reduces our construction to a model equivalent to general relativity. Finally, we suggest a simple way of modifying our theory to investigate nonstandard spacetime symmetries.

Type: Article
Title: From continuum mechanics to general relativity
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1142/S0218271814420152
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0218271814420152
Language: English
Additional information: This essay received a honorable mention in the 2014 essay competition of the Gravity Research Foundation. - This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: General relativity; continuum mechanics; space-time symmetries
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Mathematics
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1430257
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