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qtm912
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- Can the Minkowski metric be used in flat space in a non inertial, say rotating frame, and related questions
I am trying to get a few concepts straight in my mind. There is no homework question here.
1) If we lived in Minkowski space and had to work in a rotating frame of reference would the Minkowski metric still be the one to use? I assume yes as even if the frame is non inertial the geometry of space time is unchanged and the Minkowski metric is therefore the one to use. Just wanted to check if this was the correct way of thinking about it.
2) Is a Minkowski world consistent with the presence of Newtonian gravity (so even before we introduce ideas from GR). I am thinking here that the presence of Newtonian gravity might in fact alter space time geometry, but not really sure.
3) And what if this was a uniform Newtonian gravitational field in a Minkowski world (unless that is a contradiction). Is the metric is affected and do we then have to use the appropriate g-mu-nu.
As is evident quite a lot of confusion in my mind about how the nature of space time/metric, frames of reference and presence (or absence) of gravitational fields interact.
Thanks.
1) If we lived in Minkowski space and had to work in a rotating frame of reference would the Minkowski metric still be the one to use? I assume yes as even if the frame is non inertial the geometry of space time is unchanged and the Minkowski metric is therefore the one to use. Just wanted to check if this was the correct way of thinking about it.
2) Is a Minkowski world consistent with the presence of Newtonian gravity (so even before we introduce ideas from GR). I am thinking here that the presence of Newtonian gravity might in fact alter space time geometry, but not really sure.
3) And what if this was a uniform Newtonian gravitational field in a Minkowski world (unless that is a contradiction). Is the metric is affected and do we then have to use the appropriate g-mu-nu.
As is evident quite a lot of confusion in my mind about how the nature of space time/metric, frames of reference and presence (or absence) of gravitational fields interact.
Thanks.