Can all fundamental forces be fictitious force ?

In summary: So how can something with zero energy have a gravitational interaction?As I understand it, energy is what causes the distortion of space-time. Without energy, space-time would be a perfect flat sheet.
  • #1
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After reading many questions, , I wonder:

is it possible to consider also the other fundamental forces, the electroweak interaction and the strong interaction or ultimately the unification of these, to be fictitious forces like gravity in the framework of general relativity?

If we want a final unification of all fundamental forces, hasn't this feature of gravity to become a feature of the other forces as well?
 
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  • #2
Gravity is unique among the four fundamental forces in that the magnitude of the force is proportional to the mass of the object acted on. That's what allows us to model it as a fictitious force in general relativity.

You cannot do the same thing with, for example, the electromagnetic force. Two particles of the same mass will react differently to the same electrical field if they have different electrical charges, and two particles with the same charge will react differently if they have different masses. Only non-fictitious forces can behave that way.
 
  • #3
A force, as I understand it, involves the interaction of matter particles with each other via a field. An energy quantisation of the field is the force carrying particle of the field.

In the case of gravity though, particles don't interact with one another in this way. General relativity describes how space-time is distorted by energy. So what looked to everyone before Einstein like two orbiting celestial bodies, bound by some long distance force was actually two lumps of energy distorting space-time enough to make their paths through 3D space elliptical.

Yet theorists are still very concerned with "uniting the 4 forces".Is there a reason for this that is understandable to a recent science student like myself?
 
  • #4
This is a known "problem" with general relativity. There are theorists who are trying to develop a theory of "quantum gravity" which would place gravity on a similar footing as the other fundamental forces. This is a work in progress. We don't yet have a complete theory of everything.
 
  • #5
No particle (or field) interacts directly with all other fields. Heck, gluons only barely interact with the rest of them. So why is it then that anything that has energy (e.g. everything that exists) also has a gravitational interaction? Gravity seems unique in that all particles interact through it.

Then there's the whole issue of affecting spacetime. As far as I'm aware, properties such as charge, spin, color, etc. don't affect spacetime (only the energy related to these properties).
 

1. Can you explain what a fictitious force is?

A fictitious force is a term used in physics to describe a force that appears to act on an object but is actually due to the relative motion between the object and its surroundings. These forces are not actually real, but rather arise from the frame of reference used to observe the object's motion.

2. What are the four fundamental forces in physics?

The four fundamental forces in physics are gravity, electromagnetism, the strong nuclear force, and the weak nuclear force. These forces govern the interactions between particles and objects at the most basic level and play a crucial role in determining the behavior of matter in the universe.

3. Is it possible for all fundamental forces to be fictitious?

No, it is not possible for all fundamental forces to be fictitious. While some forces, such as the centrifugal force, can be described as fictitious, the four fundamental forces are not considered to be fictitious as they have been extensively studied and have been demonstrated to have a real, measurable effect on objects.

4. How do scientists determine if a force is fictitious or not?

Scientists determine if a force is fictitious by considering the frame of reference in which it is observed. If the force only appears to exist in a specific frame of reference and disappears when observed from a different frame, it is likely a fictitious force. However, if the force can be observed and measured in multiple frames of reference, it is considered to be a real, fundamental force.

5. Are there any real-life examples of fictitious forces?

Yes, there are several real-life examples of fictitious forces. One common example is the Coriolis force, which appears to act on objects moving in a rotating frame of reference, such as the Earth. Another example is the centrifugal force, which appears to act on objects moving in a circular motion. Both of these forces are not actually real, but rather arise from the frame of reference used to observe the object's motion.

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