为什么说狭义相对论是近代物理学的一大支柱

WHY WE SAY THE SPECIAL RELATIVITY IS A BIG PILLAR OF THE MODERN PHYSICS

本文首先简要介绍了狭义相对论的两条基本假设:狭义相对性原理和光速不变原理。进而由光速不变原理定义了惯性系的时间坐标并连同相对性原理推导出洛伦兹变换。随后把相对性原理具体表述为:一切物理定律的方程式在洛伦兹变换下保持形式不变。最后着重说明了为什么说狭义相对论而非广义相对论是近代物理学(包括广义相对论)的一大支柱:所有平直时空的物理学理论其动力学方程式都在洛伦兹变换下保持形式不变;广义相对论是在弯曲时空的局部保持洛伦兹不变性。

In this paper we firstly introduce the two basic postulates of special relativity, i.e. the special principle of relativity and the light speed invariance principle. Further define the time coordinates of inertial frames by light speed invariance principle and, together with the principle of relativity, derive the Lorentz transformations. Then embody the principle of rela- tivity as： the equations of all physical laws remain unchanged under the Lorentz transforma- tions. Finally explain why the special relativity rather than the general relativity is a big pillar of the modern physics （including general relativity） ： the dynamic equations in all flat spacetime theories of physics are maintain unchanged in form under Lorentz transformations; general relativity is preserving the local Lorentz invariance of space-time.