The flat space of special relativity

General Relativity (Fall, 2008)

October 27, 2008
The Minkowski metric.
For flat space, there always exists a coordinate system for which the metric tensor is constant.
For flat space, the Christoffel symbols vanish.
For flat space, parallel transport moves a vector along a space curve without changing it's direction. Curvature deflects the vector during parallel transport.
Topics: 
  • Minkowski space
  • Parallel transport