View source for Proper acceleration

{{short description|Physical acceleration experienced by an object}}
[[File:NineZonesPlus.png|thumb|400px|right|Map & traveler views of 1g proper-acceleration from rest for one year.]]
[[File:TwentyFiveZones.png|thumb|300px|right|Traveler spacetime for a constant-acceleration roundtrip.]]

In [[relativity theory]], '''proper acceleration'''<ref>Edwin F. Taylor & John Archibald Wheeler (1966 1st ed. only) ''Spacetime Physics'' (W.H. Freeman, San Francisco) {{ISBN|0-7167-0336-X}}, Chapter 1 Exercise 51 pages 97–98: "Clock paradox III" ([http://www.eftaylor.com/pub/spacetime/STP1stEdExercP81to100.pdf pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721192831/http://www.eftaylor.com/pub/spacetime/STP1stEdExercP81to100.pdf |date=2017-07-21 }}).</ref> is the physical [[acceleration]] (i.e., measurable acceleration as by an [[accelerometer]]) experienced by an object. It is thus acceleration relative to a [[free-fall]], or [[inertial]], observer who is momentarily at rest relative to the object being measured. [[Gravitation]] therefore does not cause proper acceleration, because the same gravity acts equally on the inertial observer. As a consequence, all inertial observers always have a proper acceleration of zero.

Proper acceleration contrasts with '''coordinate acceleration''', which is dependent on choice of [[coordinate system]]s and thus upon choice of observers (see [[Acceleration (special relativity)#Three-acceleration|three-acceleration in special relativity]]).

In the standard inertial coordinates of special relativity, for unidirectional motion, proper acceleration is the rate of change of [[proper velocity]] with respect to [[coordinate time]].

In an inertial frame in which the object is momentarily at rest, the proper acceleration 3-vector, combined with a zero time-component, yields the object's ''[[four-acceleration]]'', which makes proper-acceleration's magnitude [[Lorentz invariant|Lorentz-invariant]]. Thus the concept is useful: (i) with [[Accelerated frame|accelerated coordinate systems]], (ii) at [[relativistic speed]]s, and (iii) in ''[[curved spacetime]]''.

==Discussion==
In an accelerating rocket after launch, or even in a rocket standing on the launch pad, the proper acceleration is the acceleration felt by the occupants, and which is described as [[g-force]] (which is ''not'' a force but rather an acceleration; see that article for more discussion) delivered by the vehicle only.<ref>Relativity By Wolfgang Rindler pg 71</ref> The "acceleration of gravity" (involved in the "force of gravity") never contributes to proper acceleration in any circumstances, and thus the proper acceleration felt by observers standing on the ground is due to the mechanical force ''from the ground'', not due to the "force" or "acceleration" of gravity. If the ground is removed and the observer allowed to free-fall, the observer will experience coordinate acceleration, but no proper acceleration, and thus no g-force. Generally, objects in a state of inertial motion, also called ''free-fall'' or a ''ballistic path'' (including objects in orbit) experience no proper acceleration (neglecting small tidal accelerations for inertial paths in gravitational fields). This state is also known as "[[zero gravity]]" ("zero-g") or "free-fall," and it produces a sensation of [[weightlessness]].

Proper acceleration reduces to coordinate acceleration in an inertial coordinate system in [[flat spacetime]] (i.e. in the absence of gravity), provided the magnitude of the object's proper-velocity<ref>Francis W. Sears & Robert W. Brehme (1968) ''Introduction to the theory of relativity'' (Addison-Wesley, NY) [http://catalog.loc.gov/webvoy.htm LCCN 680019344], section 7-3</ref> (momentum per unit mass) is much less than the speed of light ''c''. Only in such situations is coordinate acceleration ''entirely'' felt as a g-force (i.e. a proper acceleration, also defined as one that produces measurable weight).

In situations in which gravitation is absent but the chosen coordinate system is not inertial, but is accelerated with the observer (such as the accelerated reference frame of an accelerating rocket, or a frame fixed upon objects in a centrifuge), then g-forces and corresponding proper accelerations felt by observers in these coordinate systems are caused by the mechanical forces which resist their [[weight]] in such systems. This weight, in turn, is produced by [[fictitious force]]s or "inertial forces" which appear in all such accelerated coordinate systems, in a manner somewhat like the weight produced by the "force of gravity" in systems where objects are fixed in space with regard to the gravitating body (as on the surface of the Earth).

The total (mechanical) force that is calculated to induce the proper acceleration on a mass at rest in a coordinate system that has a proper acceleration, via Newton's law {{math|1='''F''' = ''m'''''a'''}}, is called the '''proper force'''. As seen above, the proper force is equal to the opposing reaction force that is measured as an object's "operational weight" (i.e. its weight as measured by a device like a spring scale, in vacuum, in the object's coordinate system). Thus, the proper force on an object is always equal and opposite to its measured weight.

==Examples==
When holding onto a carousel that turns at constant [[angular velocity]] an observer experiences a radially inward ([[centripetal acceleration|centripetal]]) proper-acceleration due to the interaction between the handhold and the observer's hand. This cancels the radially outward ''geometric acceleration'' associated with their [[Rotating reference frame|spinning coordinate frame]]. This outward acceleration (from the spinning frame's perspective) will become the coordinate acceleration when they let go, causing them to fly off along a zero proper-acceleration ([[geodesic]]) path. Unaccelerated observers, of course, in their frame simply see their equal proper and coordinate accelerations vanish when they let go.

{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width="60%" style="text-align:left"
!''Animation:'' lost grip on a carousel
|-
|[[File:Spinframe.gif|thumb|360px|center|Map and spin frame perspectives of proper (red) and geometric (blue) accelerations for an object released from a carousel.]]
From the map frame perspective, what's dangerous is their tangential velocity.  From the spin frame perspective, the danger instead may lie with that geometric acceleration.
|}

Similarly, standing on a non-rotating planet (and on earth for practical purposes) observers experience an upward proper-acceleration due to the [[normal force]] exerted by the earth on the bottom of their shoes.  This cancels the downward geometric acceleration due to the choice of coordinate system (a so-called shell-frame<ref name="TaylorWheeler2003">Edwin F. Taylor and John Archibald Wheeler (2000) ''Exploring black holes'' (Addison Wesley Longman, NY) {{ISBN|0-201-38423-X}}</ref>).  That downward acceleration becomes coordinate if they inadvertently step off a cliff into a zero proper-acceleration (geodesic or rain-frame) trajectory.

{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width="60%" style="text-align:left"
!''Animation:'' ball that rolls off a cliff
|-
|[[File:Shellframe.gif|thumb|360px|center|Rain and shell frame perspectives of proper (red) and geometric (blue) accelerations for an object that rolls off a cliff.]] ''Note:'' The rain frame perspective, rather than being that of a raindrop, is more like that of a trampoline jumper whose trajectory tops out just as the ball reaches the edge of the cliff.  The shell frame perspective may be familiar to planet dwellers who rely minute by minute on upward physical accelerations from their environment, to protect them from that geometric acceleration due to curved spacetime.  No wonder micro-gravity environments may seem scary to them at first.
|}

''Geometric accelerations'' (due to the [[affine connection|connection]] term in the coordinate system's [[covariant derivative]] below) act on ''every gram of our being'', while proper-accelerations are usually caused by an external force.  Introductory physics courses often treat gravity's downward (geometric) acceleration as due to a [[Gravitational force|mass-proportional force]].  This, along with diligent avoidance of unaccelerated frames, allows them to treat proper and coordinate acceleration as the same thing.

Even then if an object maintains a ''constant proper-acceleration'' from rest over an extended period in flat spacetime, observers in the rest frame will see the object's coordinate acceleration decrease as its coordinate velocity approaches lightspeed.  The rate at which the object's proper-velocity goes up, nevertheless, remains constant.

{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width="60%" style="text-align:left"
!''Animation:'' high speed trip up then down
|-
|[[File:Tripframe.gif|thumb|201px|center|Map-frame perspective of proper (red) and ''coordinate'' (green) accelerations/decelerations in the vertical direction.]]
Here our object first accelerates upward for a time period of 2*c/α on traveler clocks, 
where c is lightspeed and α is the (red) proper acceleration's magnitude.  This first leg takes about 2 years if the acceleration's magnitude is about 1-gee.  It then accelerates downward (first slowing and then speeding up) over twice that period, followed by a 2*c/α upward deceleration to return to the original height.  The coordinate acceleration (green) is significant only during the low-speed segments of this voyage.
|}

Thus the distinction between proper-acceleration and coordinate acceleration<ref name="MisnerThorneWheeler">cf. C. W. Misner, K. S. Thorne and J. A. Wheeler (1973) ''Gravitation'' (W. H. Freeman, NY) {{ISBN|978-0-7167-0344-0}}, section 1.6</ref> allows one to track the experience of accelerated travelers from various non-Newtonian perspectives.  These perspectives include those of accelerated coordinate systems (like a carousel), of high speeds (where proper and coordinate times differ), and of curved spacetime (like that associated with gravity on Earth).

==Classical applications==
At low speeds in the [[inertial reference frame|inertial coordinate systems]] of [[Newton's Laws|Newtonian physics]], proper acceleration simply equals the coordinate acceleration '''a'''&nbsp;=&nbsp;d<sup>2</sup>'''x'''/d''t''<sup>2</sup>.  As reviewed above, however, it differs from coordinate acceleration if one chooses (against Newton's advice) to describe the world from the perspective of an accelerated coordinate system like a motor vehicle accelerating from rest, or a stone being spun around in a slingshot.  If one chooses to recognize that gravity is caused by the curvature of spacetime (see below), proper acceleration differs from coordinate acceleration in a [[gravitational field]].

For example, an object subjected to physical or proper acceleration '''a'''<sub>o</sub> will be seen by observers in a coordinate system undergoing constant acceleration '''a'''<sub>frame</sub> to have coordinate acceleration:
<math display="block">\vec{a}_\text{acc} = \vec{a}_\text{o} - \vec{a}_\text{frame}.</math>
Thus if the object is accelerating with the frame, observers fixed to the frame will see no acceleration at all.

{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width="60%" style="text-align:left"
!''Animation:'' driving from block to block
|-
|[[File:Carframe.gif|thumb|360px|center|Map and car frame perspectives of physical (red) and geometric (blue) accelerations for a car driving from one stop sign to the next.]]
In this illustration the car accelerates after a stop sign until midway up the block, at which point the driver is immediately off the accelerator and onto the brake so as to make the next stop. 
|}

Similarly, an object undergoing physical or proper acceleration '''a'''<sub>o</sub> will be seen by observers in a frame rotating with angular velocity {{mvar|'''ω'''}} to have coordinate acceleration:
<math display="block">\vec{a}_\text{rot} = 
\vec{a}_\text{o} - \vec\omega \times (\vec\omega \times \vec{r} ) - 2 \vec\omega \times \vec{v}_\text{rot} - \frac{d \vec\omega}{dt} \times \vec{r}.</math>
In the equation above, there are three geometric acceleration terms on the right-hand side.  The first "centrifugal acceleration" term depends only on the radial position {{math|'''r'''}} and not the velocity of our object, the second "Coriolis acceleration" term depends only on the object's velocity in the rotating frame {{math|'''v'''<sub>rot</sub>}} but not its position, and the third "Euler acceleration" term depends only on position and the rate of change of the frame's angular velocity.

{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width="60%" style="text-align:left"
!''Newtonian example:'' constant speed slingshot
|-
|[[File:Cforces.gif|thumb|360px|center|Map and spin frame perspectives of accelerations and forces associated with a stone released after being spun around on a massless rope.]]
Forces ''on the stone'' include the inward centripetal (red) force seen in both frames, as well as the geometric (blue) force seen in the spin frame.  Before the stone is released, the blue geometric force is purely centrifugal (pointing radially outward), while after release the geometric force is a sum of centrifugal and Coriolis components.

Note that after release in the spin frame that the centrifugal component (light blue) is always radial, while the Coriolis component (green) is always perpendicular to spin frame velocity.   Also seen in both frames is the force ''on the rope's anchor point'' (magenta) caused by [[Newton's laws of motion|Newton's 3rd Law]] action-reaction to the centripetal force on the stone.

===Before projectile launch===
The following alternate analyses of motion ''before'' the stone is released consider only forces acting in the radial direction.  Both analyses predict that string tension {{math|1=''T'' = ''mv''<sup>2</sup>/''r''}}.  For example, if the radius of the sling is ''r''&nbsp;=&nbsp;1 metre, the velocity of the stone in the map frame is ''v''&nbsp;=&nbsp;25 metres per second, and the stone's mass ''m''&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.2 kilogram, then the tension in the string will be 125 newtons.

*'''Map frame story before launch''' <math display="block">-T_\text{centripetal}=\sum F_\text{radial} = m a_\text{radial} = - m \frac{v^2}{r}.</math> Here the stone is seen to be continually accelerated inward so as to follow a circular path of radius ''r''.  The inward radial acceleration of ''a''<sub>radial</sub>&nbsp;=&nbsp;''v''<sup>2</sup>/''r'' is caused by a single ''unbalanced'' centripetal force&nbsp;''T''.  The fact that the tension force is unbalanced means that, in this frame, the centrifugal (radially-outward) force on the stone is zero.
*'''Spin frame story before launch''' <math display="block">m \frac{v^2}{r} - T_\text{centripetal} = \sum F_\text{rot} = m a_\text{rot} = 0.</math> From the spin frame perspective the stone may be said to experience balanced inward centripetal (''T'') and outward centrifugal (''mv''<sup>2</sup>/''r'') forces, which result in no acceleration at all ''from the perspective of that frame''.  Unlike the centripetal force, the frame-dependent centrifugal force acts on every bit of the circling stone much as gravity acts on every gram of you.  Moreover, the centrifugal force magnitude is proportional to the stone's mass so that, if allowed to cause acceleration, the acceleration would be mass-independent.

===After projectile launch===
After the stone is released, in the spin frame both centripetal and Coriolis forces act in a delocalized way on all parts of the stone with accelerations that are independent of the stone's mass.  By comparison in the map frame, after release no forces are acting on the projectile at all.  
|}

In each of these cases, physical or proper acceleration differs from coordinate acceleration because the latter can be affected by your choice of coordinate system as well as by physical forces acting on the object.  Those components of coordinate acceleration ''not'' caused by physical forces (like direct contact or electrostatic attraction) are often attributed (as in the Newtonian example above) to forces that: (i) act on every gram of the object, (ii) cause mass-independent accelerations, and (iii) don't exist from all points of view.   Such geometric (or improper) forces include [[Coriolis force|Coriolis]] forces, [[Euler force|Euler]] forces, [[g force|g-forces]], [[centrifugal force]]s and (as we see below) [[gravity]] forces as well.

==Viewed from a flat spacetime slice==
{{main|proper reference frame (flat spacetime)}}

[[File:FlatSpaceEquations.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Proper-frame dynamics in (1+1)D spacetime.]]

Proper-acceleration's relationships to coordinate acceleration in a specified slice of flat spacetime follow<ref>P. Fraundorf (1996) "A one-map two-clock approach to teaching relativity in introductory physics" ({{arXiv|physics/9611011}})</ref> from [[Hermann Minkowski|Minkowski]]'s flat-space metric equation {{math|1=(''c'' d''τ'')<sup>2</sup> = (''c'' d''t'')<sup>2</sup> − (d'''x''')<sup>2</sup>}}.  Here a single reference frame of yardsticks and synchronized clocks define map position '''x''' and map time ''t'' respectively, the traveling object's clocks define [[proper time]] ''τ'', and the "d" preceding a coordinate means infinitesimal change.  These relationships allow one to tackle various problems of "anyspeed engineering", albeit only from the vantage point of an observer whose extended map frame defines simultaneity.

===Acceleration in (1+1)D===
[[File:Roundtriptimes.png|thumb|300px|right|This plot shows how a spaceship capable of 1-gee (10 m/s<sup>2</sup> or about 1.0 light year per year squared) acceleration for 100 years might power a trip to almost anywhere in the visible universe and back in a lifetime.]]

In the unidirectional case i.e. when the object's acceleration is parallel or antiparallel to its velocity in the spacetime slice of the observer, proper acceleration '''α''' and coordinate acceleration '''a''' are related<ref>A. John Mallinckrodt (1999) [http://www.csupomona.edu/~ajm/professional/talks.html What happens when a*t>c?] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120630231102/http://www.csupomona.edu/~ajm/professional/talks.html |date=2012-06-30 }} (AAPT Summer Meeting, San Antonio TX)</ref> through the [[Lorentz factor]] {{mvar|γ}} by {{math|1='''α''' = ''γ''<sup>3</sup>'''a'''}}.  Hence the change in proper-velocity w=dx/dτ is the integral of proper acceleration over map-time t i.e. {{math|1=Δ''w'' = ''α''Δ''t''}} for constant {{mvar|α}}.  At low speeds this reduces to the [[Equation of motion|well-known relation]] between coordinate [[velocity]] and coordinate acceleration times map-time, i.e. Δ''v''=''a''Δ''t''.

For constant unidirectional proper-acceleration, similar relationships exist between [[rapidity]] ''η'' and elapsed proper time Δ''τ'', as well as between Lorentz factor ''γ'' and distance traveled Δ''x''.  To be specific:
<math display="block">\alpha=\frac{\Delta w}{\Delta t}=c \frac{\Delta \eta}{\Delta \tau}=c^2 \frac{\Delta \gamma}{\Delta x},</math>
where the various velocity parameters are related by
<math display="block">\eta = \sinh^{-1}\left(\frac{w}{c}\right) = \tanh^{-1}\left(\frac{v}{c}\right) = \pm \cosh^{-1}\left(\gamma\right) .</math>

These equations describe some consequences of accelerated travel at high speed.  For example, imagine a spaceship that can accelerate its passengers at "1 gee" (10&nbsp;m/s<sup>2</sup> or about 1.0 light year per year squared) halfway to their destination, and then decelerate them at "1 gee" for the remaining half so as to provide earth-like artificial gravity from point A to point B over the shortest possible time.<ref>E. Eriksen and Ø. Grøn (1990) Relativistic dynamics in uniformly accelerated reference frames with application to the clock paradox, ''Eur. J. Phys.'' '''39''':39–44</ref><ref>C. Lagoute and E. Davoust (1995) The interstellar traveler, ''Am. J. Phys.'' '''63''':221–227</ref>  For a map-distance of Δ''x''<sub>AB</sub>, the first equation above predicts a midpoint Lorentz factor (up from its unit rest value) of {{math|1=''γ''<sub>mid</sub> = 1 + ''α''(Δ''x''<sub>AB</sub>/2)/c<sup>2</sup>}}.  Hence the round-trip time on traveler clocks will be {{math|1=Δ''τ'' = 4(''c''/''α'') cosh<sup>−1</sup>(''γ''<sub>mid</sub>)}}, during which the time elapsed on map clocks will be {{math|1=Δ''t'' = 4(''c''/''α'') sinh[cosh<sup>−1</sup>(''γ''<sub>mid</sub>)]}}.

This imagined spaceship could offer round trips to [[Proxima Centauri]] lasting  about 7.1 traveler years (~12 years on Earth clocks), round trips to the [[Milky Way]]'s central [[black hole]] of about 40 years (~54,000 years elapsed on earth clocks), and round trips to [[Andromeda Galaxy]] lasting around 57 years (over 5 million years on Earth clocks).  Unfortunately, sustaining 1-gee acceleration for years is easier said than done, as illustrated by the maximum payload to launch mass ratios shown in the figure at right.

{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width="60%" style="text-align:left"
!''Animation:'' roundtrip to a star 6.9 lightyear away
|-
|[[File:Tripframe2.gif|thumb|396px|center|Map and traveler perspectives of a roundtrip at constant 1 gee proper-acceleration (red arrow in the traveler frame) between the sun (yellow) and a hypothetical star (cyan) 6.9 lightyears away. Proxima Centauri (orange) 4 lightyears from the sun is shown in orange toward the upper left.]]

From each perspective a year should elapse about every two seconds or every 100/17.4 frames. After each round trip ship-pilots on this shuttle-run will have aged only half as much as colleagues stationed on earth. This is [[time dilation]] in action.

Other differences include the distance changes between co-moving stars, seen in the traveler frame. This is [[length contraction]] in action.  Coordinate acceleration (green) seen in the map frame is only significant in the year before and after each launch, while the proper-acceleration (red) felt by the traveler is significant throughout the voyage.

Note also the trace of a light signal initiated from each launch point, but 0.886 map years after launch. This pulse reaches the traveler at the voyage midpoint to remind them to begin deceleration. In the map frame Proxima Centauri sees the turnaround pulse before the destination star does, but the converse is true in the traveler frame.  This is [[Relativity of simultaneity|relative simultaneity]] in action.  Nonetheless, both observers agree on the sequence of events along any time-like world line. 
|}

==In curved spacetime==
In the language of [[general relativity]], the components of an object's acceleration four-vector ''A'' (whose magnitude is proper acceleration) are related to elements of the [[four-velocity]] via a [[covariant derivative]] ''D'' with respect to proper time {{mvar|τ}}:
<math display="block">A^\lambda := \frac{DU^\lambda }{d\tau} = \frac{dU^\lambda }{d\tau } + \Gamma^\lambda {}_{\mu \nu}U^\mu U^\nu </math>

Here ''U'' is the object's [[four-velocity]], and ''Γ'' represents the coordinate system's 64 connection coefficients or [[Christoffel symbols]].  Note that the Greek subscripts take on four possible values, namely 0 for the time-axis and 1–3 for spatial coordinate axes, and that repeated indices are used to indicate [[summation convention|summation]] over all values of that index.  Trajectories with zero proper acceleration are referred to as [[geodesic]]s.

The left hand side of this set of four equations (one each for the time-like and three spacelike values of index λ) is the object's proper-acceleration 3-vector combined with a null time component as seen from the vantage point of a reference or book-keeper coordinate system in which the object is at rest.  The first term on the right hand side lists the rate at which the time-like (energy/''mc'') and space-like (momentum/''m'') components of the object's four-velocity ''U'' change, per unit time ''τ'' on traveler clocks.

Let's solve for that first term on the right since at low speeds its spacelike components represent the coordinate acceleration.  More generally, when that first term goes to zero the object's coordinate acceleration goes to zero.  This yields
<math display="block">\frac{dU^\lambda }{d\tau } =A^\lambda - \Gamma^\lambda {}_{\mu \nu}U^\mu U^\nu.</math>

Thus, as exemplified with the first two animations above, coordinate acceleration goes to zero whenever proper-acceleration is exactly canceled by the connection (or ''geometric acceleration'') term on the far right.<ref>cf. R. J. Cook (2004) Physical time and physical space in general relativity, ''Am. J. Phys.'' '''72''':214–219</ref>  ''Caution:''  This term may be a sum of as many as sixteen separate velocity and position dependent terms, since the repeated indices ''μ'' and ''ν'' are by convention summed over all pairs of their four allowed values.

===Force and equivalence===
The above equation also offers some perspective on forces and the [[equivalence principle]].  Consider ''local'' book-keeper coordinates<ref name="TaylorWheeler2003" /> for the metric (e.g. a local Lorentz tetrad<ref name="MisnerThorneWheeler" /> like that which [[global positioning system]]s provide information on) to describe time in seconds, and space in distance units along perpendicular axes.  If we multiply the above equation by the traveling object's rest mass m, and divide by Lorentz factor ''γ''&nbsp;= d''t''/d''τ'', the spacelike components express the rate of momentum change for that object from the perspective of the coordinates used to describe the metric.

This in turn can be broken down into parts due to proper and geometric components of acceleration and force.  If we further multiply the time-like component by lightspeed ''c'', and define coordinate velocity as {{math|1='''v''' = d'''x'''/d''t''}}, we get an expression for rate of energy change as well:

:<math>\frac{dE}{dt}=\vec{v}\cdot\frac{d\vec{p}}{dt}</math> (timelike) and <math>\frac{d\vec{p}}{dt} = \sum \vec{f_o} + \sum \vec{f_g} = m(\vec{a_o}+\vec{a_g}) </math> (spacelike).

Here ''a''<sub>''o''</sub> is an acceleration due to proper forces and ''a''<sub>''g''</sub> is, by default, a geometric acceleration that we see applied to the object because of our coordinate system choice.  At low speeds these accelerations combine to generate a coordinate acceleration like {{math|1='''a''' = d<sup>2</sup>'''x'''/d''t''<sup>2</sup>}}, while for unidirectional motion ''at any speed'' ''a''<sub>''o''</sub>'s magnitude is that of proper acceleration ''α'' as in the section above where ''α''&nbsp;= ''γ''<sup>3</sup>''a'' when ''a''<sub>''g''</sub> is zero.  In general expressing these accelerations and forces can be complicated.

Nonetheless, if we use this breakdown to describe the connection coefficient (Γ) term above in terms of geometric forces, then the motion of objects from the point of view of ''any coordinate system'' (at least at low speeds) can be seen as locally Newtonian.  This is already common practice e.g. with centrifugal force and gravity.  Thus the equivalence principle extends the local usefulness of Newton's laws to accelerated coordinate systems and beyond.

===Surface dwellers on a planet===
For low speed observers being held at fixed radius from the center of a spherical planet or star, coordinate acceleration '''a'''<sub>shell</sub> is approximately related to proper acceleration '''a'''<sub>o</sub> by:
<math display="block">\vec{a}_\text{shell} = \vec{a}_\text{o} - \sqrt{\frac{r}{r-r_s}} \frac{G M}{r^2} \hat{r} </math>
where the planet or star's [[Schwarzschild radius]] {{math|1=''r''<sub>s</sub> = 2''GM'' / ''c''<sup>2</sup>}}.  As our shell observer's radius approaches the Schwarzschild radius, the proper acceleration ''a''<sub>o</sub> needed to keep it from falling in becomes intolerable.

On the other hand, for {{math|''r'' ≫ ''r''<sub>s</sub>}}, an upward proper force of only {{math|''GMm''/''r''<sup>2</sup>}} is needed to prevent one from accelerating downward.  At the Earth's surface this becomes:
<math display="block">\vec{a}_\text{shell} = \vec{a}_o - g \hat{r}</math>
where {{mvar|g}} is the downward 9.8&nbsp;m/s<sup>2</sup> acceleration due to gravity, and <math>\hat{r}</math> is a unit vector in the radially outward direction from the center of the gravitating body.  Thus here an outward proper force of mg is needed to keep one from accelerating downward.

===Four-vector derivations===
The spacetime equations of this section allow one to address ''all deviations'' between proper and coordinate acceleration in a single calculation. For example, let's calculate the [[Christoffel symbols]]:<ref>Hartle, James B. (2003). Gravity: an Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity. San Francisco: Addison-Wesley. {{ISBN|0-8053-8662-9}}.</ref>
<math display="block">\left(
\begin{array}{llll}
 \left\{\Gamma _{tt}^t,\Gamma _{tr}^t,\Gamma _{t\theta }^t,\Gamma _{t\phi }^t\right\} & \left\{\Gamma _{rt}^t,\Gamma _{rr}^t,\Gamma
   _{r\theta }^t,\Gamma _{r\phi }^t\right\} & \left\{\Gamma _{\theta t}^t,\Gamma _{\theta r}^t,\Gamma _{\theta \theta }^t,\Gamma _{\theta
   \phi }^t\right\} & \left\{\Gamma _{\phi t}^t,\Gamma _{\phi r}^t,\Gamma _{\phi \theta }^t,\Gamma _{\phi \phi }^t\right\} \\
 \left\{\Gamma _{tt}^r,\Gamma _{tr}^r,\Gamma _{t\theta }^r,\Gamma _{t\phi }^r\right\} & \left\{\Gamma _{rt}^r,\Gamma _{rr}^r,\Gamma
   _{r\theta }^r,\Gamma _{r\phi }^r\right\} & \left\{\Gamma _{\theta t}^r,\Gamma _{\theta r}^r,\Gamma _{\theta \theta }^r,\Gamma _{\theta
   \phi }^r\right\} & \left\{\Gamma _{\phi t}^r,\Gamma _{\phi r}^r,\Gamma _{\phi \theta }^r,\Gamma _{\phi \phi }^r\right\} \\
 \left\{\Gamma _{tt}^{\theta },\Gamma _{tr}^{\theta },\Gamma _{t\theta }^{\theta },\Gamma _{t\phi }^{\theta }\right\} & \left\{\Gamma
   _{rt}^{\theta },\Gamma _{rr}^{\theta },\Gamma _{r\theta }^{\theta },\Gamma _{r\phi }^{\theta }\right\} & \left\{\Gamma _{\theta t}^{\theta
   },\Gamma _{\theta r}^{\theta },\Gamma_{\theta \theta }^{\theta },\Gamma _{\theta \phi }^{\theta }\right\} & \left\{\Gamma _{\phi
   t}^{\theta },\Gamma _{\phi r}^{\theta },\Gamma _{\phi \theta }^{\theta },\Gamma _{\phi \phi }^{\theta }\right\} \\
 \left\{\Gamma _{tt}^{\phi },\Gamma _{tr}^{\phi },\Gamma _{t\theta }^{\phi },\Gamma _{t\phi }^{\phi }\right\} & \left\{\Gamma _{rt}^{\phi
   },\Gamma _{rr}^{\phi },\Gamma _{r\theta }^{\phi },\Gamma _{r\phi }^{\phi }\right\} & \left\{\Gamma _{\theta t}^{\phi },\Gamma _{\theta
   r}^{\phi },\Gamma _{\theta \theta }^{\phi },\Gamma _{\theta \phi }^{\phi }\right\} & \left\{\Gamma _{\phi t}^{\phi },\Gamma _{\phi
   r}^{\phi },\Gamma _{\phi \theta }^{\phi },\Gamma _{\phi \phi }^{\phi }\right\}
\end{array}
\right)</math>
for the far-coordinate [[Schwarzschild metric]] {{math|1=(''c'' d''τ'')<sup>2</sup> = (1−''r''<sub>s</sub>/''r'')(''c'' d''t'')<sup>2</sup> − (1/(1−''r''<sub>s</sub>/''r''))d''r''<sup>2</sup> − ''r''<sup>2</sup> d''θ''<sup>2</sup> − (''r'' sin ''θ'')<sup>2</sup> d''φ''<sup>2</sup>}}, where ''r''<sub>s</sub> is the [[Schwarzschild radius]] 2''GM''/''c''<sup>2</sup>.  The resulting array of coefficients becomes:
<math display="block">\left(
\begin{array}{llll}
 \left\{0,\frac{r_s}{2 r (r - r_s)},0,0\right\} & \left\{\frac{r_s}{2 r (r - r_s)},0,0,0\right\} & \{0,0,0,0\} & \{0,0,0,0\} \\
 \left\{\frac{r_s c^2 (r-r_s)}{2 r^3},0,0,0\right\} & \left\{0,\frac{r_s}{2 r (r_s-r)},0,0\right\} & \{0,0,r_s-r,0\} & \left\{0,0,0,(r_s-r) \sin ^2\theta
   \right\} \\
 \{0,0,0,0\} & \left\{0,0,\frac{1}{r},0\right\} & \left\{0,\frac{1}{r},0,0\right\} & \{0,0,0,-\cos \theta  \sin \theta \} \\
 \{0,0,0,0\} & \left\{0,0,0,\frac{1}{r}\right\} & \{0,0,0,\cot (\theta )\} & \left\{0,\frac{1}{r},\cot \theta ,0\right\}
\end{array}
\right).</math>

From this the shell-frame proper acceleration can be obtained  by setting coordinate acceleration to zero and thus requiring that proper acceleration cancel the geometric acceleration of a stationary object i.e. <math>A^\lambda = \Gamma^\lambda {}_{\mu \nu}U^\mu U^\nu = \{0,GM/r^2,0,0\}</math>.  This does not solve the problem yet, since [[Schwarzschild coordinates]] in curved spacetime are book-keeper coordinates<ref name="TaylorWheeler2003" /> but not those of a local observer.  The magnitude of the above proper acceleration 4-vector, to be found with the help of the metric tensor g<sub>ij</sub>, is <math display="inline">\alpha = \sqrt{1/(1-r_s/r)}GM/r^2</math> which is the upward frame-invariant proper acceleration needed to counteract the downward geometric acceleration felt by dwellers on the surface of a planet.

A special case of the above Christoffel symbol set is the flat-space [[spherical coordinate]] set obtained by setting ''r''<sub>s</sub> or ''M'' above to zero:
<math display="block">\left(
\begin{array}{llll}
 \left\{0,0,0,0\right\} & \left\{0,0,0,0\right\} & \{0,0,0,0\} & \{0,0,0,0\} \\
 \left\{0,0,0,0\right\} & \left\{0,0,0,0\right\} & \{0,0,-r,0\} & \left\{0,0,0,-r \sin ^2\theta
   \right\} \\
 \{0,0,0,0\} & \left\{0,0,\frac{1}{r},0\right\} & \left\{0,\frac{1}{r},0,0\right\} & \{0,0,0,-\cos \theta  \sin \theta \} \\
 \{0,0,0,0\} & \left\{0,0,0,\frac{1}{r}\right\} & \{0,0,0,\cot \theta \} & \left\{0,\frac{1}{r},\cot \theta ,0\right\}
\end{array}
\right).</math>

From this one can obtain, for example, the centri''petal'' proper acceleration needed to cancel the centri''fugal'' geometric acceleration of an object moving at constant angular velocity {{math|1=''ω'' = d''φ''/d''τ''}} at the equator where {{math|1=''θ'' = ''π''/2}}.  Forming the same 4-vector sum as above for the case of {{math|d''θ''/d''τ''}} and {{math|d''r''/d''τ''}} zero yields nothing more than the classical acceleration for rotational motion given above, i.e. <math>A^\lambda = \Gamma^\lambda {}_{\mu \nu}U^\mu U^\nu = \{0,-r(d\phi/d\tau)^2,0,0\}</math> so that {{math|1=''a''<sub>o</sub> = ''ω''<sup>2</sup>''r''}}.  Coriolis effects also reside in these [[Covariant derivative#Coordinate description|connection coefficients]], and similarly arise from coordinate-frame geometry alone.

==See also==
{{cols|colwidth=26em}}
*[[Acceleration]]: change in velocity
*[[Proper velocity]]: momentum per mass in special relativity; composed of the spacelike components of the 4-velocity
*[[Proper reference frame (flat spacetime)]]: accelerated reference frame in special relativity (Minkowski space)
*[[Fictitious force]]: one name for mass times ''geometric acceleration''
*[[Four-vector]]: making the connection between space and time explicit
*[[Kinematics]]: for studying ways that position changes with time
*[[Uniform acceleration]]: holding coordinate acceleration fixed
{{colend}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* Excerpts from the first edition of ''Spacetime Physics'', and other [http://www.eftaylor.com/download.html#special_relativity resources posted by Edwin F. Taylor]
* [http://www.physics.ucsb.edu/~gravitybook/ James Hartle's gravity book page] including Mathematica programs to calculate Christoffel symbols.
* Andrew Hamilton's [https://web.archive.org/web/20080211161918/http://casa.colorado.edu/~ajsh/phys5770_08/notes.html notes and programs] for working with local tetrads at U. Colorado, Boulder.

[[Category:Minkowski spacetime]]
[[Category:Acceleration]]