Could Gravity and the Strong Force Be the Same Phenomenon at Different Scales?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the possibility of gravity and the strong force being manifestations of the same underlying phenomenon at different scales, examining theoretical implications and experimental observations related to their properties and behaviors.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that gravity and the strong force could be the same force at smaller scales, suggesting different properties arise from this scale difference.
  • One participant challenges the initial claim, arguing that the terms "the same" and "different properties" are contradictory and unclear.
  • Another participant notes that while attempts have been made to test gravity on small scales, current evidence supports the inverse square relationship, indicating that gravity behaves differently than the strong force.
  • A participant mentions that all forces might originate from a single unified force at high energies, with their current differences resulting from symmetry breaking in the early universe.
  • It is highlighted that the gravitational force is significantly weaker than the strong force at nucleon sizes, and the nature of their interactions differs fundamentally, with gravity relating to mass and the strong force to "color" and quarks.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the possibility of a meaningful connection between gravity and the strong force, stating that there appears to be no evidence supporting such a relationship.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between gravity and the strong force, with no consensus reached on whether they could be the same phenomenon or if they fundamentally differ.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge limitations in current experimental capabilities to test gravity at small scales, and the discussion reflects varying interpretations of the terms and concepts involved.

LpcArk
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Is it possible that gravity and the strong force could be the same just on a smaller scale giving it different properties?
 
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"the same" and "different properties" are mutually contradictory. I don't think you've written what you meant.
 
People have been trying to test gravity on small scales, but have gotten down to only a fifth maybe a tenth of a millimeter so far...so far it seems the inverse square relationship is holding...

it IS likely all forces originate from a single "unified" force at very high energies, so it's believed the four forces we observe today have different features resulting from symmetry breaking in the early universe...they now behave differently in a low energy, stable environment...in that sense all the forces ARE the same,or at least WERE, but "look" different now.
 
LpcArk said:
Is it possible that gravity and the strong force could be the same just on a smaller scale giving it different properties?

The gravitational force on the scale of nucleon sizes is something like 10 to the power of 40 times weaker than the strong force; the way in which it varies with distance is completely different; the strong force relates to "color" and quarks where the gravitational force relates to mass as its "charge". Even the word "force" is somewhat misused in the term "strong force"; the term "strong interaction" is better.

It might be "possible", but I'd say there does not appear to be any evidence that they have anything useful in common.
 
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