Is the equivalence principle useful for understanding general relativity?

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the usefulness of the Equivalence Principle in understanding general relativity by comparing gravitational phenomena with accelerated observers without assuming weak fields.

Contribution

It provides a detailed, observer-dependent analysis of gravitational effects versus acceleration, clarifying the limits of the Equivalence Principle's applicability in strong fields.

Findings

Certain gravitational effects can be simulated by acceleration

The EP's applicability is limited in strong fields

Results are observer-dependent, not coordinate-dependent

Abstract

The Equivalence Principle (EP) is at the heart of General Relativity (GR), tested in many aspects. It is often used to discuss qualitatively the influence of gravity on physical phenomena. But can this be made more precise? We compare clock rates, frequency shifts, light deflection and time delay in simple static spacetimes to the analogous phenomena seen by accelerated observers in Minkowski space. In contrast to previous studies, we do not assume that the gravitational field is weak and see, as we proceed, how the field is constrained by the EP. Special care is taken that results are only observer-, but not coordinate-dependent. By this we clarify some of the issues raised in the literature and show which gravitational effects can and which cannot be simulated by acceleration. The paper may also serve as a contribution for critical discussions on the implications of the EP.