Why is special relativity so special?

Asked Jan 12 '15 at 16:56

Active Jan 12 '15 at 17:02

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The title says it really. Why is special relativity so special?

I'm just curious as to how and why the term 'special' came to describe the theory of relativity where gravitational forces are negligible. I guess there was a need to distinguish it somehow from general relativity, but it still seems a slightly strange choice. Can anyone shed any light on the history of this?

Are there any versions of relativity that aren't special?

edited Jan 12 '15 at 17:02

Qmechanic

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asked Jan 12 '15 at 16:56

Time4Tea

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Does this answer your question? – Mark Mitchison Jan 12 '15 at 16:57
Ok, so it's a special case of general relativity. Thanks, I hadn't seen that question. – Time4Tea Jan 12 '15 at 17:01
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I believe that the phrase "special relativity" was first used (by Einstein) in 1915 when he formulated the theory of general relativity. Before then it was just called relativity. – John Rennie Jan 12 '15 at 17:02

Why is special relativity so special?

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