Gravity: A Matter of Spacetime Compression?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of gravity, particularly focusing on the concept of spacetime compression and its relationship with mass. Participants explore theoretical perspectives on how gravity might be visualized and understood, including analogies involving wavelengths and waves. The scope includes conceptual reasoning and personal interpretations of gravitational effects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes that gravity can be visualized as a contraction in spacetime, suggesting that spacetime is compressed more closely to massive objects, affecting the propagation of spacetime itself.
  • Another participant expands on this idea, likening the effect of gravity to a slide, where the compression of spacetime causes objects to "fall" faster as they approach a mass.
  • A different viewpoint is introduced, stating that gravity is not solely a matter-related phenomenon but also involves the interaction between matter and spacetime.
  • Some participants recommend that the original poster (OP) familiarize themselves with General Relativity and gravitational waves to better understand the complexities of gravity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of gravity and its relationship with spacetime. While some suggest that a deeper understanding of established theories like General Relativity is necessary, others present alternative conceptualizations without reaching a consensus.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions involve assumptions about the nature of spacetime and gravity that are not fully explored or defined, leading to potential ambiguities in the interpretations presented.

YoungDreamer
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I have always thought of gravity as being a phenomenon related to matter.
I have always envisioned it as a "contraction" in spacetime reaching out in all directions from an object.
What I mean by contraction is that the closer you get to a body of mass the more spacetime is compressed.
Due to this compression of spacetime it is warped to propagate faster or slower depending on the distance from the center of mass that is creating the effect and the amount of mass/density.
A better way to visualize what I am saying is to think of it as a wavelength. The spacetime closer to an object has a shorter wavelength and as you get further away the wavelength of space and time gets longer.
And in cases of extreme gravity like a black hole the wavelength is so short that the waves are compressed to the point that they are essentially one, like a spring that has been compressed so that the "waves" are all touching.
The only difference in the way I look at it and my wavelength analogy is that I look at gravity in terms of straight lines being compressed so you wouldn't really be able to see the compression like you would in a wavelength.
Now my question is am I wrong, if so how wrong and what is right?
 
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I forgot to mention my thoughts on the affect gravity has on mass in my line of thinking.
We know gravity is responsible for, well, basically falling. So when I think about this fact in relation to my above statements I would think that the compression lines of gravity work almost like a slide. The closer we get to an object the faster we "fall". Since we are stuck on Earth, for the most part, we are always in the most compressed region of spacetime relative to Earth, therefore we always "slide" right back down.
I guess it would be easier to explain this with wavelengths as well. Imagine the wavelengths are moving towards the Earth, the wave is keeping us down the same way a water wave pushes a surfer towards shore.
Now that I think about it a little more if its easier to explain as a wavelength then it is probably a wave anyways and not straight as I had previously thought.
Now I have revised my thoughts on gravity to include waves.
With that new perspective are my thoughts on the way gravity works correct, if not please correct my misunderstandings.
 
I would like to add one more thing.
I thought that gravity was not just a phenomenon related to matter, as I have stated above, but a phenomenon related to the way matter interacts with spacetime.
 
Have you read up on General Relativity and other things relating to gravity? If not I recommend having a thorough understanding of those before trying to understand gravity differently.
 
Drakkith said:
Have you read up on General Relativity and other things relating to gravity? If not I recommend having a thorough understanding of those before trying to understand gravity differently.

I suggest the OP try a search on "gravitational waves."
 
olivermsun said:
I suggest the OP try a search on "gravitational waves."

Yes, there is that too.
 

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