GR explanation of Newtonian Phenomena

In summary, general relativity describes the motion of objects in space-time, and the concept of acceleration depends on the choice of coordinate system. It is not meaningful to ask who is actually accelerating, as it is relative to the chosen reference frame.
  • #1
aachenmann
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1. How would a general relativist explain why an object falls towards the earth?

2. Is it correct to say that it is not the apple that falls towards the Earth but it is the Earth that accelerates towards the apple? Why is this ok to say?
 
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  • #2
The apple follows a geodesic path through space-time. One way o describing the mathematical characteristics of this path is to say that it satisfies the principle of extremal aging.

see for instance http://www.bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp/~suchii/extrem.aging.html
http://www.eftaylor.com/pub/chapter2.pdf

and look for past PF posts with this keyword.

2) The question is really irrelevant in GR - it doesn't matter which viewpoint you use.
 
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  • #4
aachenmann said:
1. How would a general relativist explain why an object falls towards the earth?
Science does not explain, it describes. To say that it explains leads one into a logical circle.
2. Is it correct to say that it is not the apple that falls towards the Earth but it is the Earth that accelerates towards the apple? Why is this ok to say?
What accelerates is actually doing the acceleration is a coordinate dependant statement. Once you choose a coordinate system you can state whose coordinates in that system represents an accelerating object. Here I speak of 3-acceleration since the 4-acceleration of each object, i.e. Earth and apple, is zero.

Pete
 
  • #5
Since the OP is no longer with us, there seems no point in keeping this thread open.
 

1. What is the "GR explanation of Newtonian Phenomena"?

The "GR explanation of Newtonian Phenomena" refers to the General Relativity (GR) theory proposed by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century, which provides a more comprehensive explanation of gravity compared to Newton's theory of gravity.

2. How does GR explain Newtonian Phenomena?

GR explains Newtonian Phenomena by proposing that the force of gravity is not a force between masses, but rather a curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of mass. This curvature affects the motion of objects, causing them to accelerate towards each other.

3. What are some examples of Newtonian Phenomena explained by GR?

Some examples of Newtonian Phenomena explained by GR include the precession of Mercury's orbit, the bending of light by massive objects, and the gravitational time dilation effect.

4. How does the GR explanation differ from Newton's theory?

The main difference between the GR explanation and Newton's theory is the concept of spacetime curvature. Newton's theory states that gravity is a force between masses, while GR proposes that it is the curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of mass.

5. Is GR a more accurate explanation of Newtonian Phenomena?

Yes, GR is considered to be a more accurate explanation of Newtonian Phenomena as it has been proven to be more precise in predicting the behavior of objects in the presence of massive bodies, especially in extreme conditions such as near black holes.

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