Gravitational Force and Light: Is There a Connection?

In summary, light is affected by gravitational forces, even though it has no mass. This is explained by Einstein's theory of general relativity, which states that gravity is not a force and mass is not the source of gravity. While Newtonian mechanics also predicts the bending of light, it does not accurately describe it and general relativity is needed for a quantitative explanation.
  • #1
marz
7
0
Hello,
We know that light get bent near stars (because of its gravitational force), and in fact it cannot escape the gravitational forces of black holes.

We also know from Newton's laws of gravity that the gravitational attraction between any two objects is ZERO if any mass is ZERO.

We also know that photons (light) have ZERO mass.
So, if light has no mass, then why is it affected by any gravitational force ?
Am I missing something ?
Thanks.
 
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  • #2
marz said:
Am I missing something ?
Only Einstein's theory of general relativity :wink:
 
  • #3
Even in Newtonian mechanics, light was expected to be affected by gravitational fields. While there is no force, no force is necessary to accelerate an object with no mass. The idea in Newtonian mechanics would be to take ##mg = ma## and taking the limit ##m\to 0## would still give ##a = g##.

Now, Newtonian mechanics does not describe the bending of light appropriately and quantitatively, you need general relativity for that. In GR, mass is not the source of gravity and gravity is not even a force, so you should not have any expectation of gravity based on masses.
 

1. What is gravitational force?

Gravitational force is a natural phenomenon that describes the attraction between two objects with mass. It is the force that causes objects to fall towards Earth and keeps celestial bodies in orbit.

2. What is light?

Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye. It is a type of energy that travels in waves and can be described as both a particle and a wave.

3. Is there a connection between gravitational force and light?

Yes, there is a connection between gravitational force and light. According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, gravity is not a force but rather a curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of mass and energy. Light, being a form of energy, is affected by this curvature and can be bent by the gravitational pull of massive objects.

4. How does gravitational force affect light?

Gravitational force can affect light in several ways. One of the most notable effects is gravitational lensing, where the path of light is curved by the gravitational pull of massive objects, causing it to appear distorted. Gravitational force can also cause a phenomenon known as gravitational redshift, where light is shifted towards the red end of the spectrum as it travels through a gravitational field.

5. Can we observe the connection between gravitational force and light?

Yes, the connection between gravitational force and light has been observed and studied through various experiments and observations. One of the most famous examples is the observation of gravitational lensing during a solar eclipse in 1919, which provided evidence for Einstein's theory of general relativity. In modern times, advanced technology has allowed us to study and understand this connection even further.

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