Gravity does negative or positive work with cosmos redshift?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of work done by gravity in relation to cosmological redshift, exploring various theoretical models including the Big Bang theory, De Sitter's model, Dicke's model, and Tired Light theory. The scope includes theoretical implications and interpretations of cosmological observations.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that in the context of the Big Bang theory, gravity does overall negative work due to the universe's expansion.
  • Others argue that De Sitter's model complicates the concept of distance and suggests that redshift is due to the expansion of space itself, making the work done by gravity less straightforward.
  • According to Dicke's model, some participants suggest that gravity does not do overall negative or positive work in a steady-state universe.
  • The Tired Light theory posits that redshift could be explained by a contracting universe, where gravity is said to do positive work.
  • One participant notes that both Lemaitre and de Sitter spacetimes are solutions to the Einstein Field Equations, questioning the usefulness of the concept of gravity doing work in these contexts.
  • Concerns are raised about the consistency of Zwicky's Tired Light theory with observations, suggesting its predictions may not hold significance.
  • A participant mentions the historical context of changing theories in cosmology, indicating that current mainstream views may evolve with new data.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of work done by gravity in relation to cosmological redshift, with no consensus reached on which model is most accurate or preferred.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the discussion regarding the definitions of terms like "work" in the context of general relativity, as well as unresolved mathematical implications of the various models discussed.

doudou
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Based on the fact of observed cosmological redshift, scientists have proposed different ideas to explain. One interesting question is whether gravity does negative or positive work now:

According to universe expanding in Big Bang theory (Lemaitre, 1927), obviously gravity does overall negative work.

According to De Sitter's model (Willem de Sitter, 1917), redshift is caused by expansion of space itself, in this model, distance is no longer an intuitional concept, that makes it more complicated.

According to Dicke's model (Dicke, 1948-1949), it seems that gravity doesn't do overall negative or positive work in steady-state universe.

According to Tired Light theory (Zwicky, 1929), redshift could be explained by a contracting universe, in which gravity does positive work.

How to answer this question?

Thank you.
 
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doudou said:
How to answer this question?
Read an up-to-date cosmology book?
 
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Both Lemaitre and de Sitter spacetimes are solutions to the Einstein Field Equations. They don't model gravity as a force and they are neither stationary nor asymptotically flat, so I would say that "gravity does work" is not a useful concept.

I'm not familiar with Dicke's gravitational theory, but his Wikipedia page notes that he argued that the universe was near critical density, and hence spatially flat not steady state.

Zwicky's tired light is not consistent with observation, so its predictions aren't important.
 
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PeroK said:
Read an up-to-date cosmology book?
Wishing you can propose something remarkable in physics, by reading up-to-date books and posting sarcasm in forum.
 
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doudou said:
Wishing you can propose something remarkable in physics, by reading up-to-grade books and posting sarcasm in forum.
It wasn't sarcasm.
 
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Ibix said:
Both Lemaitre and de Sitter spacetimes are solutions to the Einstein Field Equations. They don't model gravity as a force and they are neither stationary nor asymptotically flat, so I would say that "gravity does work" is not a useful concept.

I'm not familiar with Dicke's gravitational theory, but his Wikipedia page notes that he argued that the universe was near critical density, and hence spatially flat not steady state.

Zwicky's tired light is not consistent with observation, so its predictions aren't important.
Thank you Ibix for kind reply :)

You are right, using language should be more careful here.

Those theories or solutions are mentioned, just because they represent typical prediction about the fate of Universe, expanding, steady, or contracting.

This is a last-lasting debate, and seems no wide agreement yet. One of my consultants, he is a physicist, who support Big Bounce. However, even among its supporters, they do not agree on which phase the universe is undergoing.

In history, it is not rare that for many years, one explanation to a certain observation is in favor, then another is, so probably, we will not be shocked if mainstream changes in the future.

Personally, which theory about the fate of Universe you prefer?
 
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doudou said:
Personally, which theory about the fate of Universe you prefer?
I think most of us here ignore "prefer" and go with the facts/observations.
 
doudou said:
Personally, which theory about the fate of Universe you prefer?
Our current best fit model is a flat or very nearly flat universe with eternal expansion. That may change as we get more data.
 

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