What is the Schwarzschild metric?
Q: What is the Schwarzschild metric?
A: The Schwarzschild metric is an equation from general relativity in the field of astrophysics that describes how a particle moves through the space near a black hole. It was calculated by Karl Schwarzschild as a solution to Einstein's field equations in 1916.
Q: What does a metric refer to?
A: A metric refers to an equation which describes spacetime; in particular, a Schwarzschild metric describes the gravitational field around a Schwarzschild black hole.
Q: What are some characteristics of the Schwarzschild black hole?
A: The Schwarzschild black hole is non-rotating, spherical, and has no magnetic field. In addition, its cosmological constant is zero.
Q: How can we describe the gravitational field around a Schwarzschild black hole?
A: We can describe it using the Schwartzchild metric equation which describes how particles move through space near this type of black hole.
Q: Who first calculated this equation?
A: Karl Schwartzchild first calculated this equation as a solution to Einstein's field equations in 1916.
Q: What does (ds)^2 represent in this equation?
A:(ds)^2 represents the distance between two points on spacetime measured with respect to time and space coordinates.