# Is it possible to derive curvature of spacetime from EFEs to create a computer simulation of the solar system? [duplicate]

Background

I am a professional scientist (biologist), statistician and a computer programmer, but an amateur physicist so pardon me if this question appears silly. In order to understand general relativity (a truly inspiring theory, btw), I would like to create a computer simulation of the solar system using gravity as defined by the general relativity theory (not Newtonian gravity). I am thinking about following steps for the process:

1. Introduce the XYZ locations, masses, and tangential velocities for celestial bodies
2. Calculate the curvature of spacetime introduced by these celestial bodies at time t0.
3. Remove the curvature caused by each celestial body for their own path, but include all other curvatures.
4. Increase time to t1, iterate the new position of celestial bodies based on conditions set in step 1 and 3 (and those in general relativity).
5. Calculate steps 2 and 3 for the new position. Repeat 4. Etc.

Question

After using half a day online, I am still unsure whether Einstein Field Equations (EFEs) let me derive the new XYZ locations in step 4. Does General relativity let me do calculations outlined above using computational power in a modern laptop?

My background in physics and maths fails me here (this is part of the fun in learning something new). If doing the above is theoretically possible and not too computationally intensive, figuring out how to do each step is just details. I might ask such details in separate questions, but here I am after whether my understanding is completely off (never worked with partial differential equations before).

## marked as duplicate by StephenG, Community♦Mar 27 '18 at 8:57

• It would probably be better to use the parametrized post-newtonian formalism for such a thing, since using the EFEs would require you to know not only the initial positions and velocities of the planets, but also the initial metric of spacetime itself, which is a complicated problem especially for that many bodies. – Slereah Mar 27 '18 at 8:08
• For most practical purposes, Newtonian gravity suffices. GR corrections are minuscule. What do you need the simulation for? – Qmechanic Mar 27 '18 at 8:12
• @Qmechanic To learn and understand the general relativity theory and to play around. I find it easier to learn things through practical problems...and if it was possible, it would make a nice flexible simulation: introducing moons etc. could lead to actual behavior since (in my mind) the bodies would follow geodesics and the conditions defined in step 1 – Mikko Mar 27 '18 at 8:17
• In other words, if the simulation would produce "wrong" results due to too large time steps, this would not be a problem for me (maybe that's why using Newtonian gravity is a better option, put the computational challenges aside). I am thinking about making an educational toy rather than a precise tool. – Mikko Mar 27 '18 at 8:24
• Possible duplicate of Is there an algorithm for N body simulations in General Relativity – StephenG Mar 27 '18 at 8:38