From continuum mechanics to general relativity

Understand

Using ideas from continuum mechanics we construct a theory of gravity.

• We show that this theory is equivalent to Einstein's theory of general relativity; it is also a much faster way of reaching general relativity than the conventional route.
• Our approach is simple and natural: we form a very general model and then apply two physical assumptions supported by experimental evidence.
• This easily reduces our construction to a model equivalent to general relativity.