Gravity is a downer.

[vakkotaur]

Q: Under relativistic (not Newtonian) gravitational theory, does everything still suck?

Newtonian (Classical) physics is really a subset of Einsteinian (Relativistic) physics, but there is some difference in the theory. Newton simply described what happened, but did not really explain how it happened. From Relativity comes the idea that matter bends or warps space-time. It has even been said that the idea of empty space is nonsense as without any matter in it, space is undefined. In a sense, matter creates space.

The result is that matter does not itself suck, but it creates a warped space-time that makes it seem like it does. The difference hardly matters as the effect is the same: gravity works.

Comments

[chakawolf.livejournal.com]

>without any matter in it, space is undefined.

I have never heard it put that way. Makes sense. The greatest cosmological mystery for me has always been space itself. It is a place where something MIGHT be. If you go far enough out, it is a place where something probably isn't.

[jcw-da-dmg.livejournal.com]

In fact, the overwhelming majority of matter IS space! Do you know what the ratio is of the volume of electrons, protons and neutrons to that of the space between the nucleus and the electrons? It's MUCH greater than the ratio of Sun and planets to the orbit of Pluto. If gravity didn't work, atoms would pass right through each other - then where would we be?

Sorry if this is a bit "heavy" for some of you.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

Are you sure it's gravity there? At that scale, I'd expect it to be the electric force at work keeping atoms from slipping through each other.

[jcw-da-dmg.livejournal.com]

Mea culpa. But I think it's actually the weak nuclear force, which has been shown to be related to electro-magnetism. (The STRONG nuclear force is, of course, that which binds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus)

[verypinkygirl.livejournal.com]

Is it Space Time yet?

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

There's always space for time. Or is it, there's always time for space? Or was it something about Jell-o?