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A free particle Lagrangian in a 3D curvilinear coordinate system can be written as an inner product with the metric $g$: $$ L = \frac{1}{2}m\sum_{i,j=1}^3v^ig_{ij}v^j. $$

This equation was taught to me in the context of curved coordinate systems that can be transformed to be flat, for example polar coordinates. However, it seems awfully tempting to take a "fundamentally curved" metric from GR, like the Schwarzschild metric, to use in this equation. I know that even in flat space, this will give me the wrong answer if the velocity gets near $c$. However, so long as $|v| \ll c$, will there be any problems in treating it this way? What must be true about the coordinate system and the dynamics of the system in order for this scheme to work?

Qmechanic
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  • Isn't the whole point of the classical limit that the EoMs for $v \ll c$ look like they come from your Lagrangian plus an extra term that looks like a gravitational potential? – jacob1729 Jun 19 '20 at 20:02
  • Related: https://physics.stackexchange.com/q/44947/2451 – Qmechanic Jun 19 '20 at 21:54
  • J. Wambsganss in https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9812021 treats gravitational lensing as (perturbative?) quasi-Newtonian gravitational field on the flat background Minkowski spacetime. While I understand the approach, or at the least hope I do, I'm not sure I grok the endgame. Didactic? Simplifying calculation? But this seems relevant to your question, if I understand it, so maybe that paper would be helpful. – kkm -still wary of SE promises Jun 19 '20 at 23:57

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Your proposed Lagrangian will sadly give wrong equations no matter the limit. In the Schwarzschild weak field limit, it is

$$L = \frac12 m (\dot{r}^2 + r^2 \dot{\theta}^2 + r^2 \sin^2\theta\, \dot{\varphi}^2) + \frac{GmM}{r} \frac{\dot{r}^2}{c^2}$$

instead of

$$ L = \frac12 m (\dot{r}^2 + r^2 \dot{\theta}^2 + r^2 \sin^2\theta\, \dot{\varphi}^2) + \frac{GmM}{r}.$$

You can see that it's essential that the relativistic Lagrangian contain something involving the time component of the four-velocity, which will, in the non-relativistic limit, turn into the velocity independent potential.

The conceptual point behind this is that the "time" part in "curvature of spacetime" is essential. It's not just a relativistic correction; it's where the whole physics lies. Newtonian gravitation is not just GR restricted to just space curvature.

Javier
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