Nichtrelativistisch

"Nichtrelativistisch" is a German term that translates to "non-relativistic" in English. It refers to a context or a theory that does not adhere to the principles of relativity, particularly those proposed by Albert Einstein in his theory of special and general relativity. In physics, a non-relativistic approach assumes that the speeds involved are much smaller than the speed of light, and that the effects of relativity can be neglected. This is often the case in classical mechanics and in many practical applications where the velocities are not approaching the speed of light.

Non-relativistic theories typically use Newtonian mechanics, which is based on the laws of motion formulated by Sir Isaac Newton. These laws describe the relationship between a body and the forces acting upon it, and its motion in response to those forces. Non-relativistic theories are simpler and more intuitive, making them easier to apply in many everyday situations.

However, non-relativistic theories have their limitations. They do not accurately describe phenomena where relativistic effects become significant, such as in high-energy particle physics, astrophysics, or situations involving objects moving at speeds close to the speed of light. In such cases, a relativistic approach is necessary to provide an accurate description of the physical processes involved.