GR: Is Schwarzschild Spacetime Time-Independent?

In summary, the significance of the considered spacetime depends on one's definition of "significant." The time-independent metric allows for a family of timelike worldlines where the spacetime geometry remains constant. On the other hand, the time-dependent embedding describes the shape of a manifold, but may not directly relate to GR. Some posts on Physics Forums and arXiv discuss embeddings of Schwarzschild spacetime in higher dimensional spaces, but this is not directly related to GR.
  • #1
jk22
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I'm a bit confused about GR : what is more significant about the considered spacetime, the metric, which is time-independent, or the embedding (there are already some posts on PF about it), which describes the shape of a manifold, but is time-dependent ?
 
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jk22 said:
what is more significant

That depends on what you consider "significant".

jk22 said:
the metric, which is time-independent

More precisely, the spacetime geometry admits a family of timelike worldlines (which can represent a family of observers) along which the spacetime geometry does not change (and therefore the spacetime geometry "looks the same" at all times to that family of observers).

jk22 said:
the embedding (there are already some posts on PF about it), which describes the shape of a manifold, but is time-dependent ?

What embedding are you referring to? Links to the PF posts you mention would help.
 
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FAQ: GR: Is Schwarzschild Spacetime Time-Independent?

What is Schwarzschild spacetime?

Schwarzschild spacetime is a mathematical model used in general relativity to describe the curvature of space and time around a massive, non-rotating object. It is named after the German physicist Karl Schwarzschild.

Is Schwarzschild spacetime time-independent?

No, Schwarzschild spacetime is not time-independent. It describes a static, non-rotating object, but it does not account for the effects of time. In reality, all objects in the universe are constantly moving and evolving over time.

How does Schwarzschild spacetime relate to general relativity?

Schwarzschild spacetime is a solution to Einstein's field equations in general relativity. It describes the curvature of space and time in the absence of any external forces, such as gravity.

Can Schwarzschild spacetime be used to describe black holes?

Yes, Schwarzschild spacetime is often used to describe the curvature of space and time around a non-rotating black hole. It is one of the simplest and most well-known solutions to Einstein's field equations that can be used to model black holes.

Are there any limitations to using Schwarzschild spacetime in general relativity?

Yes, there are limitations to using Schwarzschild spacetime in general relativity. It is a simplified model that does not account for factors such as the rotation or charge of an object, and it does not apply to situations where strong gravitational effects are present, such as near the event horizon of a black hole.

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