Exploring the Mathematical and Physical Foundations of Relativity
By Anant
This project aims to explore and understand the mathematical and physical foundations of Einstein’s theories of special and general relativity. Rather than beginning with a fixed research question, the goal is to develop a strong conceptual and mathematical grounding in relativity and use that foundation to identify a specific topic for deeper investigation later in the year.
Our study will emphasize the connections between geometry, algebra, and physics in describing spacetime. We will begin with special relativity, covering Lorentz transformations, spacetime intervals, and the Minkowski metric, and gradually extend to general relativity, focusing on curvature and tensor analysis. By doing so, we aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of how mathematical structures encode the behavior of space, time, and gravity.
The broader value of this project lies in its emphasis on deep theoretical understanding before specialization. This approach mirrors the way physicists build research questions from first principles, allowing us to approach advanced topics in relativity with both rigor and clarity.