- #1
brianhurren
- 71
- 2
this might be a dumb question, but, if spacetime isn't a field and gravity is a property of spacetime. then gravity isn't a field either? (at least not a quantum field.)
brianhurren said:this might be a dumb question, but, if spacetime isn't a field and gravity is a property of spacetime. then gravity isn't a field either? (at least not a quantum field.)
brianhurren said:this might be a dumb question, but, if spacetime isn't a field and gravity is a property of spacetime. then gravity isn't a field either? (at least not a quantum field.)
WannabeNewton said:There's a beautiful quote by the almighty John Wheeler about this but I can't seem to find it
John Archibald Wheeler said:Spacetime tells matter how to move; matter tells spacetime how to curve.
One caveat: He does that only in the linear approximation.bhobba said:At a technical level you will find a discussion on it in Ohanians textbook:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0393965015/?tag=pfamazon01-20
He derives the EFE's both ways - as a field and as space-time curvature, and shows they are are really the same thing.
Demystifier said:One caveat: He does that only in the linear approximation.
brianhurren said:this might be a dumb question, but, if spacetime isn't a field and gravity is a property of spacetime. then gravity isn't a field either? (at least not a quantum field.)
Spacetime is a concept that combines the three dimensions of space (length, width, and height) with the dimension of time. It is used to describe the location and movement of objects in the universe.
Gravity is a force that attracts objects with mass towards each other. It is responsible for keeping planets in orbit around a star and for holding objects on the surface of a planet.
According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, gravity is not a force but a curvature of spacetime. The presence of massive objects, such as planets, warps the fabric of spacetime, causing other objects to follow curved paths towards them.
Fields are regions in space where a physical quantity, such as gravity or electromagnetic force, can be measured. They are described by mathematical equations and can influence the movement and behavior of objects within their boundaries.
Fields can also affect the curvature of spacetime. For example, the presence of a massive object creates a gravitational field that warps the surrounding spacetime. This interaction between fields and spacetime helps explain the behavior of objects in the universe.