Does Mass Decrease as it Emits Gravitational Force?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the question of whether mass decreases as it emits gravitational force, exploring both the gravitational field perspective and the particle perspective involving gravitons. Participants examine the implications of gravitational waves and energy loss in gravitational interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if mass shrinks while emitting gravitational force, suggesting that a continuous production of a gravitational field could lead to energy loss.
  • Another participant argues that mass does not lose energy through gravity, stating that gravity should be viewed differently than electromagnetic forces, and that gravitating bodies do not incur a "graviton debt."
  • A participant references the observation of a double pulsar and questions what kind of energy can be lost if mass does not decrease, suggesting kinetic energy as a possibility.
  • It is noted that orbiting pulsars lose angular momentum rather than mass, leading to a spiral inward trajectory, which is also suggested to apply to Earth and the Sun in the distant future.
  • Another participant inquires about the implications of a mass remaining still and whether its gravitational force ceases.
  • One participant introduces string theory, explaining gravitons as massless particles, which complicates detection due to their weak force.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether mass decreases as gravitational force is emitted, with some asserting no mass loss occurs while others explore the implications of gravitational waves and energy loss. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved assumptions regarding the nature of gravitational interactions, the role of energy loss, and the implications of gravitational waves. The discussion also touches on the limitations of current technology in detecting gravitons.

CarstenDierks
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Hi everybody,

Does someone know if mass shrinks while it emits gravitation?

What I mean is either the gravitation field point of view:
Does mass need to continuously produce a field of gravitational force and by this lose energy?

Or the particle view:
If mass continuously emits gravitons, it must lose energy and thus mass.

Are these assumptions correct or am I totally wrong?

Do you know if any observations or experiments indicate this viewpoint?

I am looking forward to any answer,

Carsten
 
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No mass loss due to gravity. Gravity is not a force like EM. It is more accurate to think of gravity as an allergic reaction by space to the presence of matter [space curves around it]. Assuming their existence, no graviton debt would be incurred. Gravitating bodies would receive just as many gravitons as they send.
 
Thank you for the answer, Chronos.

But I still would like to know one more thing:

What about gravitational waves? Though they have not been detected yet, Hulse and Taylor received the physics Nobel Prize for their observation of a double pulsar. The pulsar was discovered in 1974. By theory, it must lose energy in form of gravitation. During the observation, their circulation time decreased as predicted by theory.

So if no mass is lost, what kind of energy can be lost? Kinetic energy. OK. But what happens if a mass particle "stays still"? Does gravitation stop?
 
Correct, the orbiting pulsars lose angular momentum, not mass. Which means they spiral in towards each other and will eventually merge. The same thing will happen to the earth. It will spiral into the sun. Fortunately, this will not happen for a very long time.
 
And what happens if mass stays still? Does its gravitational force really stop?
 
String theory explains gravitons as being massless, like a photon,
and because we don't have the technological know-how we can't detect such a weak unit force.
 

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