Newtonian Gravitation  

Theory > s.a. equivalence principle; models of spacetime structure.
* Idea: Bodies interact through a gravitational force Fg = G mg m'g/r2 acting at a distance, and accelerations are proportional to forces with proportionality constant equal to the inertial mass, a = F/mi.
* Masses: The force is proportional to the gravitational masses, but as Newton knew mg ∝ mi, which makes gravitation similar to "inertial" forces, in that the acceleration is independent of each body's individual characteristics.
* Potential: If we define Φ(r) = U(r)/r for a test body, then the potential Φ satisfies the Poisson equation ∇2Φ = 4πGρ,

Φ(r) = −G ∫ dM |r−r'|−1 = −GM/r − G D · r/r3 − \(1\over2\)G Qij ri rj / r5 + ... ,

where D = ∫ dM r' is the dipole moment of the mass distribution (always zero with respect to the center of mass), and Qij = ∫ dM [3 ri'rj' − r' 2 δij] the quadrupole moment (vanishes for a spherical mass distribution).
* Potential energy: For an extended body in an external field, U = ∫ ρ(r) Φ(r) d3r; The self-energy is

Uself = \(1\over2\)∫ ρ(r) Φ(r) d3r = (1/8πG) ∫ (∇Φ)3 d3r + ∫ ρ(r) Φ(r) d3r .

@ References: Deser AJP(05)aug-gq/04 [from field theory]; Counihan EJP(07) [basic principles]; Yurtsever et al a1004 [inverse problem]; in Ohanian & Ruffini 13; in Poisson & Will 14; Pereira a1903 [from its empirical basis to the theory].

Special Topics > s.a. cosmology; gravitational constant; Newton's Theorem; teaching [weightlessness, tides].
* Tidal forces: A mass m located at (x, y, z) with respect to a frame centered at a point a distance M, feels a tidal force

Fx = −x (GMm/r03) ,   Fy = −y (GMm/r03) ,   Fz = 2z (GMm/r03) ;

In general relativity the expression is more complicated, uses the equation for geodesic deviation.
* Other formulations: A (slightly generalized) geometric version is the Newton-Cartan theory.
@ N-body problem: Volchan a0803 [Sundman-Weierstraß theorem of total collapse]; Farrés et al CMDA(13)-a1208 [high-precision symplectic integrators for the Solar System].
@ Tidal forces: Masi AJP(07)feb [compressive radial]; Efroimsky & Williams CMDA(09)-a0803 [tidal torques]; > s.a. Love Number.
@ Other situations: Odagaki & Kawai AJP(98)aug [many-particle statistics]; Beig & Schmidt PRS(03)gq/02 [self-gravitating extended bodies]; Teixeira phy/03 [infinite straight line of mass]; Buchert PLA(06)gq/05 [self-gravitating dust]; Ridgely EJP(11) [in material media].
@ Other formulations and issues: De Pietri et al gq/92, CQG(95)gq/94, CQG(95)gq/94 [generalization]; Nardone JPA(98) [regularization]; Natário GRG(06)gq/04 [initial-value form, and warp drive]; Hansen et al PRL(19)-a1807 [action principle, gravitational time dilation]; Banerjee & Mukherjee PRD(18)-a1810 [geometric].

Phenomenology > s.a. cosmological models [Newtonian cosmology]; phenomenology of gravity; modifications and tests of newtonian gravity.
@ Effects: Abramowicz et al GRG(97) [curvature of space and perihelion precession]; Ferroglia & Fiolhais AJP(20)dec [tidal locking, pedagogical].
@ Specific objects: Dittrich a1609 [Dirichlet's massive homogeneous ellipsoid].
@ Measurement: Kulikov JMO(06)qp/05 [transparency of cold atoms]; Charrière et al PRA(12) [local g measurements]; Graney PT(12)sep [Giovanni Battista Riccioli]; Harms LRR(15)-a1507 [terrestrial gravity fluctuations]; news sn(19)nov [measuring gravity with trapped atoms]; > s.a. Eötvös Experiment; fifth force.
> Related topics: see critical collapse; Newton's Theorem [shell theorem]; orbits in newtonian gravity.


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