Gravitational Effect: 2 Masses N, 2 Larger Masses Further Apart

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the gravitational effects between two pairs of masses, one smaller and one larger, both having the same gravitational effect denoted as N. Participants explore the implications of distance on gravitational force and question the meaning of "gravitational effect." The conversation touches on concepts from Newtonian gravity and the potential paradoxes arising from these ideas.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the meaning of "gravitational effect," suggesting it may refer to gravitational force between the masses.
  • One participant asserts that increasing the distance between two masses weakens the gravitational force, referencing Newton's law of gravitation.
  • Another participant challenges the idea of having larger masses with the same gravitational effect, arguing that greater mass should correspond to greater gravitational force.
  • A participant introduces the notion of a "gravitational paradox," suggesting it could challenge established theories like Newton's law or Einstein's relativity.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the validity of personal theories and emphasize the importance of understanding established theories before proposing paradoxes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach consensus on the interpretation of "gravitational effect" or the implications of distance on gravitational force. There are competing views regarding the relationship between mass, distance, and gravitational force.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the definitions and implications of gravitational effects, and there are unresolved questions regarding the conditions under which gravitational force is calculated.

Einstein's Cat
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If there are two masses with the gravitational effect of (say) N and there are two larger masses which are wider apart but with the same gravitational effect of N; is the gravitational effect between the two larger bodies (that are further apart) greater due to the increased distance between them?
 
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Einstein's Cat said:
If there are two masses with the gravitational effect of (say) N and there are two larger masses which are wider apart but with the same gravitational effect of N;
What do you mean by "gravitational effect"? Do you mean the gravitational force between the two masses?
 
Einstein's Cat said:
If there are two masses with the gravitational effect of (say) N and there are two larger masses which are wider apart but with the same gravitational effect of N; is the gravitational effect between the two larger bodies (that are further apart) greater due to the increased distance between them?

By "gravitational effect" do you mean the force between them? If so (and it's hard to imagine what else you might mean), you can calculate it directly from Newton's ##F=Gm_1m_2/r^2##. It should be clear from inspection that increasing the distance weakens the force and increasing one or both masses strengthens it. Which effect dominates in any particular situation depends on how you choose the masses and the distances.
 
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How is this a paradox?
 
Vanadium 50 said:
How is this a paradox?
I agree. I changed the name of the thread to "gravitational effect"
 
The reason I labeled it "Gravitational Paradox" is because I've developed a paradox of gravity that would either compromise Newton's universal law of gravitation or if not Einstein's special theory of relativity. The question I asked was to hopefully undermine the paradox
 
  1. PF is not for development of personal theories.
  2. It has been known since 1905 that Newtonian gravity and SR were incompatible.
  3. Finding "paradoxes" before understanding the theory is somewhere between useless and impossible. Concentrate on learning the theories first.
 
Einstein's Cat said:
If there are two masses with the gravitational effect of (say) N and there are two larger masses which are wider apart but with the same gravitational effect of N

How can you have larger masses with the same gravitational force? If there mass is greater there gravity is also greater.

Einstein's Cat said:
Is the gravitational effect between the two larger bodies (that are further apart) greater due to the increased distance between them?

Gravity decreases with distance (double the distance quarter the force) so no there larger mass will create more gravitational force at the same distance.

Do you mean at a greater distance from say a object centred between them? If so then the larger masses would have to be at a greater distance from the centre to have a equal gravitational force. If they were four time the mass of the smaller masses they would have to be double the distance away.
 

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