What Is the Weak Field Limit?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of the weak field limit, particularly in the context of gravitational fields and potential implications of extra dimensions. Participants explore the definition and implications of weak fields, as well as the relationship between curvature and dimensions in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants define the weak field limit as a condition where the gravitational field is small, particularly when far from massive objects.
  • One participant suggests that extra dimensions could be perceived through the expansion of space, indicating a potential visibility of these dimensions.
  • Another participant argues that curvature can be visualized without requiring extra dimensions, emphasizing that General Relativity describes curvature in space-time without such references.
  • There is a contention regarding the limits of scientific testing, with some asserting that the physical world may extend beyond what can be experimentally verified, while others caution against straying too far from empirical evidence.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of extra dimensions and the relationship between curvature and dimensions. There is no consensus on the visibility of extra dimensions or the extent to which the physical world is defined by experimental capabilities.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the limitations of current experimental abilities in defining physical reality, but there is no resolution on how this impacts the understanding of weak fields or extra dimensions.

keepitmoving
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what is the weak field limit?
 
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keepitmoving said:
what is the weak field limit?
Generally, it's when the field in question is small. With gravity, for instance, the gravitational field is small when you're far away from any massive objects.
 
Chalnoth,
like i said, i`m just an amateur but couldn`t the extra dimensions actually be visible as the expansion of space and that they are staring us right in the face. Also, the actual physical world isn`t limited to what science can test for. thank you for your answer on the afield limit.
 
keepitmoving said:
Chalnoth,
like i said, i`m just an amateur but couldn`t the extra dimensions actually be visible as the expansion of space and that they are staring us right in the face.
Well, it is always possible to visualize curvature by considering a surface embedded in a larger-dimensional space. For instance, the surface of a sphere is a purely two-dimensional surface. We visualize the curvature of this surface, however, by looking at the surface in three dimensions.

One of the main insights of differential geometry (the mathematics behind General Relativity), however, is that you don't actually need to have extra dimensions to have curvature. The curvature in General Relativity (which is how the expansion is described: it's curvature in space-time) is fully depicted with no reference to any extra dimensions.

keepitmoving said:
Also, the actual physical world isn`t limited to what science can test for. thank you for your answer on the afield limit.
Er, but it is only stuff that we can test for, whether directly or indirectly, that we can be confident exists. The real world may well not be limited by our experimental abilities. And that's fine. But we had better limit ourselves to our experimental abilities lest we mislead ourselves.
 
thanks chalnoth but keep pushing that envelope out!
 
keepitmoving said:
thanks chalnoth but keep pushing that envelope out!
Naturally :)
 

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