Is the principle of equivalence a principle?

Abstract

The work argues the principle of equivalence to be a theorem and not a principle (in a sense of an axiom). It contains a detailed analysis of the concepts of normal and inertial frame of reference. The equivalence principle is proved to be valid (at every point and along every path) in any gravitational theory based on linear connections. Possible generalizations of the equivalence principle are pointed out.

arXiv comment19 pages, LaTeX 2e file; the package amsfonts is required, http://www.inrne.acad.bg/mathmod/bozhome/bozhome.htm

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• Auto-parallel equation as Euler-Lagrange's equation in spaces with affine connections and metrics
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• Frames of reference in spaces with affine connections and metrics
• On metric-connection compatibility and the signature change of space-time
• Deviation equations of Synge and Schild over spaces with affine connections and metrics
• Flows and particles with shear-free and expansion-free velocities in (L^-_n,g)- and Weyl's spaces
• Equivalence principle in classical electrodynamics
• Mechanics of Continuous Media in $({\bar{L}}_n,g)$-spaces. I. Introduction and mathematical tools
• Relative velocity and relative acceleration induced by the torsion in (pseudo) Riemannian spaces with torsion and in spaces with an affine connection and metrics
• On the existence of a gyroscope in spaces with affine connections and metrics
• Weyl's spaces with shear-free and expansion-free conformal Killing vectors and the motion of a free spinless test particle
• Normal frames for general connections on differentiable fibre bundles