Can Moving Masses Create a New Field Similar to Magnetic Fields?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the concept of whether moving masses can create a field analogous to magnetic fields generated by moving electric charges. It touches on theoretical aspects of gravitational fields, general relativity, and the potential similarities between electromagnetic and gravitational phenomena.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that moving masses might set up a field similar to magnetic fields, drawing an analogy between electric currents and flowing masses.
  • Another participant argues that electromagnetism and gravitation are fundamentally different, implying that the analogy may not hold.
  • A later reply indicates that in general relativity, there is a concept related to this idea, referred to as "gravitomagnetism," which arises from the curvature of space-time but does not constitute a "new" field in the traditional sense.
  • One participant provides a link to further information on gravitomagnetism, suggesting that it is a relevant aspect of the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the analogy between moving masses and magnetic fields, with some supporting the idea of a new field and others contesting it based on the differences between electromagnetism and gravitation. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the validity of the analogy.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the nature of gravitational fields and their relationship to moving masses, as well as references to general relativity that may not be fully explored or agreed upon by all participants.

Alpharup
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It is known Magnetic fields are set due to moving electric charges. Since electric and gravitational fields are proportional to 1/r^2 where r is the distance from the charge and body respectively. Also both these fields obey Gauss law. So they are identical in certain aspects
I was sitting in my balcony drinking a cup of tea and suddenly a thought came to my mind. Is there a new field set up due to moving masses, the same way magnetic field is set up due to moving charges?
For example when an electric current(I=dq/dt) passes through a wire, magnetic field is set up in concentric circles. now the same analogy can be extended to this situation. let us take a tube and let water flow through it. let the rate of flow of mass be constant, the same way the rate of flow of charge is constant in given wire ie.. dm/dt is constant.Now by analogy, will a new field be set up in concentric circles around the tube the same way magnetic field is set up around the wire ?
 
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well you should see that if this flowing will affect as it affect in the case of current carrying wire to anything out, also electromagnetism and gravitation are different otherwise maxwell might have given a theory of gravitation also.
 
sharan swarup said:
Is there a new field set up due to moving masses, the same way magnetic field is set up due to moving charges?

In general relativity, yes, in a way. It's not really a "new" field in that it's simply an aspect of the gravitational field (space-time curvature) that comes out of solving the Einstein field equations of GR, under certain conditions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitomagnetism
 
jtbell said:
In general relativity, yes, in a way. It's not really a "new" field in that it's simply an aspect of the gravitational field (space-time curvature) that comes out of solving the Einstein field equations of GR, under certain conditions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitomagnetism

Thank you for the link.
 

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