Newtonian limit

In physics, the Newtonian limit refers to physical systems without significantly intense gravitation, in the sense that Newton's law of universal gravitation may be used to obtain values that are correct to a high order. Objects are also expected to move much slower than the speed of light.^[1]

In general, and in the presence of significant gravitation, the general theory of relativity must be used.

In the Newtonian limit, spacetime is approximately flat^[1] and the Minkowski metric may be used over finite distances. In this case 'approximately flat' is defined as space in which gravitational effect approaches 0, mathematically actual spacetime and Minkowski space are not identical, Minkowski space is an idealized model.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Carroll, S, Lecture Notes on General Relativity, p104 http://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9712019