Linearized gravity

Summary

Linearized gravity is an approximation of general relativity for metrics close to the flat Minkowski metric. The metric is written as the flat one plus a small perturbation, and only terms linear in the perturbation are kept. The Einstein field equations then become linear wave equations, much like Maxwell's equations. It is the basis for the theory of weak gravitational waves, for the Newtonian limit, and for gravitoelectromagnetism.