Are there examples where gravity works indendent of nuclear forces ?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the relationship between gravity and nuclear forces, exploring whether gravity operates independently of nuclear interactions. Participants examine the nature of gravity, its mechanisms, and the potential connections or lack thereof with nuclear forces, touching on both classical and modern theories.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether gravity can be tested in the absence of nuclear or electromagnetic forces, expressing uncertainty about the mechanisms behind gravity.
  • Another participant points out that gravity cannot be measured at very small scales, such as nuclear distances, and highlights the relative strengths of the forces involved.
  • It is noted that there is currently no evidence to definitively rule out a relationship between gravity and nuclear forces, although existing models do not suggest a connection.
  • Some participants suggest that gravity might be an emergent property resulting from the interplay of various forces, referencing newer theories like entropic gravity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a lack of consensus on the relationship between gravity and nuclear forces, with some suggesting potential connections while others emphasize the absence of evidence supporting such a relationship.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations in understanding the fundamental causes of the forces involved and the challenges in measuring gravity at different scales, particularly at inter-galactic distances and nuclear scales.

rogerharris
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Yes i am aware this may appear a stupid question, but I am just starting science refresher course and was not able to find an answer so far by googling.

So far we are being taught the classical view of gravity. Its a property of mass... and that appears to be it. There is no mechanism, particles etc so i was wondering if anybody had tested if gravity is at play where there is no general nuclear or electromagnetic force involved.

i.e. How do we actually know gravity is not a nuclear force is my question ?
 
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rogerharris said:
This doesn't help me know if gravity is not the mechanical result of nuclear forces
We don't know how gravity works at very large distances (ie. at inter-galactic distances on the order of millions of light years). We simply cannot measure it. We cannot measure gravity at the distance of a nuclear radius. The coulomb force is over 10^40 times stronger than gravity. And the nuclear force is hundred times stronger than that.

We do not understand what causes any of the forces: nuclear, electric, gravity. So to say that two forces (nuclear and gravity) that we do not understand at all cannot be related may seem rather pretentious. All we can say is that our models for understanding gravity and nuclear forces do not show any relationship between the two forces.

As far as I am aware, there is no evidence that rules out a possible relationship between gravity and nuclear force. There just isn't any evidence that they are related, other than: the fact that the two forces are only attractive (there is some suggestion that the nuclear force is repulsive at distances much smaller than a proton diameter, but we don't know how gravity operates on that scale); the fact that the magnitudes of both forces depend on the quantity of matter (number of protons/neutrons) involved as well as the distances of separation; and the fact that we don't understand what causes either force.

AM
 
Andrew Mason said:
We don't know how gravity works at very large distances (ie. at inter-galactic distances on the order of millions of light years). We simply cannot measure it. We cannot measure gravity at the distance of a nuclear radius. The coulomb force is over 10^40 times stronger than gravity. And the nuclear force is hundred times stronger than that.

We do not understand what causes any of the forces: nuclear, electric, gravity. So to say that two forces (nuclear and gravity) that we do not understand at all cannot be related may seem rather pretentious. All we can say is that our models for understanding gravity and nuclear forces do not show any relationship between the two forces.

As far as I am aware, there is no evidence that rules out a possible relationship between gravity and nuclear force. There just isn't any evidence that they are related, other than: the fact that the two forces are only attractive (there is some suggestion that the nuclear force is repulsive at distances much smaller than a proton diameter, but we don't know how gravity operates on that scale); the fact that the magnitudes of both forces depend on the quantity of matter (number of protons/neutrons) involved as well as the distances of separation; and the fact that we don't understand what causes either force.

AM


Thanks Andrew. I guess that sums it up. There is macro and microscopic aspects we haven't figured. or maybe gravity could be some kind of emergent property of several forces together.

i.e. i found these newer theories.

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

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=splitting-time-from-space
 

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