Discussion Overview
The discussion explores whether black holes affect the path of photons and neutrinos, focusing on the nature of gravity and its interaction with massless particles. Participants examine theoretical implications, general relativity, and the behavior of these particles in gravitational fields.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Technical explanation
- Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- Some participants question how gravity can attract photons if they have no rest mass, suggesting that photons behave as if they have mass due to their energy.
- Others assert that all particles, including photons and neutrinos, are affected by gravity, referencing historical tests of general relativity, such as the bending of light by the sun.
- A participant proposes that neutrinos could theoretically orbit within a massive object, such as the sun, without colliding with it.
- There is a suggestion that neutrinos might be abundant enough in the galaxy to account for some dark matter.
- Some participants express confusion about the nature of neutrinos and their relationship with gravity and mass.
- One participant argues that general relativity does not imply that gravity can escape a black hole, raising questions about the speed of gravity and its interaction with light.
- Another participant counters that Einstein did address gravity in the context of general relativity and that the theory does not contradict other physics principles.
- There are discussions about the concept of gravitational waves and whether gravity propagates faster than light, with differing opinions on the implications of these ideas.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express a range of views on the interaction of gravity with massless particles, with no consensus reached on several key points, including the nature of gravity, the behavior of photons and neutrinos, and the implications of general relativity.
Contextual Notes
Some claims rely on specific interpretations of general relativity and the definitions of mass, energy, and gravity. The discussion includes unresolved questions about the speed of gravity and the behavior of particles in extreme gravitational fields.