On the ``Derivation'' of Einstein's Field Equations
Abstract
An attempt is made to clarify the physical and the mathematical reasonings that underlie Einstein's laws of gravitation. It appears that only by a mixture of physical reasonableness, mathematical simplicity, and aesthetic sensibility can one arrive at Einstein's field equations. The general theory of relativity is in fact an example of ``the power of speculative thought.'' The topics considered include a discussion of the principle of equivalence and the view of space-time as a geometric manifold. Two ``derivations'' of Einstein's equations are given: one based on physical reasonableness and the other based on a variational principle and mathematical simplicity.
- Publication:
-
American Journal of Physics
- Pub Date:
- February 1972
- DOI:
- 10.1119/1.1986496
- Bibcode:
- 1972AmJPh..40..224C