Clarifying possible misconceptions in the foundations of general relativity

Abstract

We discuss what we take to be three possible misconceptions in the foundations of general relativity, relating to: (a) the interpretation of the weak equivalence principle and the relationship between gravity and inertia; (b) the connection between gravitational redshift results and spacetime curvature; and (c) the Einstein equivalence principle and the ability to "transform away" gravity in local inertial coordinate systems.

24 pages; revised title and arguments; conclusions unaltered

References in corpus (2)

• Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger
• Photons that travel in free space slower than the speed of light

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Underdetermination in Classic and Modern Tests of General Relativity
• Entanglement-induced deviation from the geodesic motion in quantum gravity
• Does time always slow down as gravity increases?
• Phase velocity and light bending in a gravitational potential
• Gravitational redshift revisited: inertia, geometry, and charge