Why Is General Covariance Fundamental in Modern Physics?

[zankaon]

What is general covariance? See a very informative discussion at: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=197220&highlight=general+covariance"

 

[Chris Hillman]

Note that this is a thread in the moderated UseNet group sci.physics.research, which is external to PF. The PF "subforum" https://www.physicsforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=123 is in fact just a portal to that newsgroup.

 

[Entropia]

General covariance is a concept in physics that refers to the invariance of physical laws under arbitrary coordinate transformations. This means that the equations that describe physical phenomena should remain the same regardless of the coordinate system used to describe them.

In other words, the laws of physics should be independent of the observer's choice of coordinates. This is a fundamental principle of modern physics, and it is closely related to the concept of relativity.

General covariance is a key feature of Einstein's theory of general relativity, which describes the relationship between mass, energy, and the curvature of space-time. In this theory, the laws of physics are formulated in a way that is independent of the reference frame used to describe them. This allows for the theory to be applied in any coordinate system, making it more flexible and applicable to a wide range of situations.

One of the main implications of general covariance is that it allows for the development of a unified theory of physics, where all fundamental forces and particles can be described using a single set of equations. This is a major goal in modern physics, and general covariance plays a crucial role in achieving this goal.

Overall, general covariance is a fundamental principle that underlies much of modern physics and allows for a deeper understanding of the natural world.