Can Gravity and Electromagnetism Be Unified in Physics?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the difference between gravity and electromagnetism, and whether or not these two theories can be unified. The idea of gravity being the effect of electromagnetic density on objects is proposed, but it is not completely accurate according to Einstein's theory of relativity. The concept of string theory is also mentioned as a potential unifying theory for these two forces.
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SBryars
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gravity vs. EM HELP ME!

As I understand it, gravity applies to large bodies and electromagnetism applies to small bodies? gravity being the weaker of the two forces.
can these two theories be unified?

assuming the eltromagnetic attraction of particles at the atomic level, wouldn't it be intuitive to say that gravity is the effect of a bodies' elctromagnetic density on another bodies electomagnetic density? The greater the mass and density of an object, the greater the attraction on other objects. this would smooth the problem between large and small body attraction, no? there would be no warping of spacetime to account for the attraction of large bodies, just the magnetic attraction of all masses at the atomic level.
 
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  • #3
can these two theories be unified?
Thats the big question in physics at the moment and string theory is one of the main contenders.

As for gravity being a form of EM, which is a fair conclusion to draw, its not correct. Einstein tells us that mass warps space time in such a way as to cause gravitational forces. This mass is supposedly caused by the higgs particle and field
 

1. What is the difference between gravity and electromagnetism?

Gravity is a fundamental force of nature that is responsible for the attraction between objects with mass, while electromagnetism is a force that results from the interaction between electrically charged particles.

2. Why do objects fall towards the Earth instead of being pulled towards other objects?

Objects fall towards the Earth because of the Earth's gravitational pull. This is due to the large mass of the Earth compared to other objects.

3. How does electromagnetism affect everyday objects?

Electromagnetism plays a crucial role in our daily lives, as it is responsible for electricity, magnetism, and light. It allows for the functioning of electronics, motors, and generators.

4. Why is gravity considered a weaker force compared to electromagnetism?

Gravity is considered a weaker force because it has a much smaller magnitude compared to electromagnetism. For example, the gravitational force between two objects is around 10^-39 times weaker than the electromagnetic force between the same two objects.

5. Can gravity and electromagnetism be unified into one theory?

There have been attempts to unify gravity and electromagnetism into one theory, such as Einstein's theory of general relativity. However, a complete unified theory has not yet been achieved and remains an active area of research in physics.

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