Special relativity takes place in flat space time (with Minkowski geometry), and doesn’t describe gravitational phenomena. (At least, not non-uniform gravitation; uniform gravitation is the same as an accelerating frame in flat space, via Einstein’s thought experiment about the man in the elevator in space)
General relativity takes place in possibly curved space time, and it describes how matter curves space time (matter causes gravity), and how the curvature of space time influences the motion of objects in it (gravity influences matter)
TreesAreReal813 t1_ivyhylm wrote
Reply to What is the difference between Special, Classical and General Relativity? by Balazspapai
Special relativity takes place in flat space time (with Minkowski geometry), and doesn’t describe gravitational phenomena. (At least, not non-uniform gravitation; uniform gravitation is the same as an accelerating frame in flat space, via Einstein’s thought experiment about the man in the elevator in space)
General relativity takes place in possibly curved space time, and it describes how matter curves space time (matter causes gravity), and how the curvature of space time influences the motion of objects in it (gravity influences matter)