GE - GMm/R: Does Vacuum Energy Affect Gravitational Fall?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between gravitational energy (GE) and vacuum energy in the context of gravitational fall, particularly as the radius (R) of a sphere increases. Participants explore whether the increase in mass due to vacuum energy can affect the direction of gravitational fall, questioning if it could lead to a falling inward instead of outward.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that as R increases, the mass (M) increases to the third power, suggesting that falling outward is downhill due to gravitational energy becoming more negative.
  • Others argue that the increase in M is attributed to vacuum energy, which converts to mass, but question whether this increase is significant enough to affect the gravitational dynamics.
  • A participant mentions that if the increase in vacuum energy is less than the increase in R, it could lead to a less negative GE, potentially causing a falling inward.
  • There is a request for clarification regarding the context and terminology used, indicating that some participants find the discussion difficult to follow.
  • One participant cites a specific source, a book titled "Cosmology: The History and Nature of the Universe," to support their claims about the relationship between GE and vacuum energy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding and interpretation of the concepts discussed. There is no consensus on the implications of vacuum energy on gravitational fall, and multiple competing views remain regarding the significance of vacuum energy in relation to gravitational energy.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note a lack of clarity in the shorthand used and the absence of context for the claims made, which may limit understanding of the discussion. The relationship between vacuum energy and gravitational energy remains unresolved, with assumptions about their interactions not fully explored.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring concepts in cosmology, gravitational physics, and the implications of vacuum energy in theoretical frameworks.

keepitmoving
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re: GE = minus GMm/R. It`s said that as R increases M increases to the third power and therefore falling outward is downhill but the increase in M is due to an increase in the vacuum energy which converts to a certain amount of mass. However, the mass of vacuum energy is very small. Could that mass increase less than the increase in R and therefore fall inward?
 
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keepitmoving said:
re: GE = minus GMm/R. It`s said that as R increases M increases to the third power and therefore falling outward is downhill but the increase in M is due to an increase in the vacuum energy which converts to a certain amount of mass. However, the mass of vacuum energy is very small. Could that mass increase less than the increase in R and therefore fall inward?
What?
 
it was in a book by Prof Mark Whittle. Since the volume , mass (vacuum energy) of a sphere increases as the third power of the radius increases, then the GE minus(GMm/R) would become more negative as R increases and there fore GE would cause a falling outward. I guess it depends however on how much vacuum energy increases when the R increases. If the increase in vacuum energy cubed was less than the increase in R then GE would become less negative and cause a falling inward.
 
I don't understand what it is you're trying to ask.
 
We have not read the book. Nor have you told us what book it is.

You are using too much shorthand for us to understand the issue in a contextual vacuum.
 
it`s an outline book called "Cosmology: The History and Nature of the Universe" from one of the "Great Courses" DVD`s.
Basically i`m asking if the increased mass as a result of the vacuum energy (mass) created when the sphere expands can be less than the increase in Radius. Vacuum energy is small and if it is small enough the soution would result in smaller negative GE and therefore a falling inward rather than outward.
 
according to this book GE is a negative value and that falling goes in the direction of greater negative value of GE.
 

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