# Differential Equations

1. Oct 15, 2007

### MetricBrian

Is it true that both Newtonian Physics and Relativity express the laws of nature in the form of differential equations?

2. Oct 15, 2007

### Proggle

Simply put, yes. Even the most innocent equations in Newtonian physics you can think of, for example:

$$F=ma$$

are often differential equation in a more general case.

$$F= m\frac{d^2 x}{dt^2}$$

General Relativity involves mostly systems of partial differential equations, so that's a no brainer.

3. Oct 15, 2007

### MetricBrian

and this is also the case with special relativity?

4. Oct 15, 2007

### Proggle

Not sure which case you're referring to...

SR has plenty of differential equations involved (the very fact that the velocity of objects is involved in nearly everything in SR would suggest this fact), but not of the type and complexity of GR.

5. Oct 15, 2007

### MetricBrian

I was just verifying that SP expresses scientific laws as differential equations

6. Oct 15, 2007