What Causes Gravity to Attract Objects?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the nature of gravity and the underlying mechanisms that cause the attraction between particles, exploring both theoretical and conceptual aspects of gravity.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the fundamental nature of gravity and what causes attraction between particles regardless of distance or mass.
  • Another participant states that the cause of gravity is not definitively known.
  • A participant references General Relativity, suggesting that mass curves the fabric of space, which affects the trajectories of objects and creates the appearance of attraction.
  • One participant quotes Isaac Newton, emphasizing that he did not provide hypotheses regarding gravity, which raises further questions about why mass curves space.
  • A later reply reiterates the uncertainty surrounding the explanation of why mass curves space and mentions a previous reference that could not be located.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty about the nature of gravity, with no consensus on a definitive explanation. Multiple competing views and questions remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in understanding the fundamental reasons behind gravitational attraction and the implications of General Relativity, as well as the absence of a clear explanation for why mass curves space.

theCandyman
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Why is gravity? What is it that causes attraction between two particles, no matter what their distance from each other or their masses or even what is between the two?
 
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Nobody really knows.
 
theCandyman said:
Why is gravity? What is it that causes attraction between two particles, no matter what their distance from each other or their masses or even what is between the two?

According to General Relativity, the surface that is our universe is curved in the presence of mass. This affects the trajectories of objects and makes it appear that masses are being attracted towards each other.
 
To quote Isaac Newton on the subject "Fengo non hypothesen" ("I frame no hypotheses").

As to geometer's response, of course that leaves open the question why mass curves space.
 
HallsofIvy said:
To quote Isaac Newton on the subject "Fengo non hypothesen" ("I frame no hypotheses").

As to geometer's response, of course that leaves open the question why mass curves space.

It certainly does, and I don't have a good explanation for this!

I seem to remember seeing, at one time, an article somewhere in my stack of references on why mass curves space, but I have since searched in vain for it!
 

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