Gravity reaches across space and apparently reaches across time.

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    Gravity Space Time
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of gravity and its relationship with time, particularly whether gravity can influence or "reach back" into the past. Participants explore the implications of spacetime warping and the philosophical aspects of time's existence.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that gravity's effect on spacetime could imply a connection to the past, questioning if the past still exists.
  • Others argue that gravity does not "reach into the past" and that changes in gravity cannot be felt before the event that caused them.
  • There is a discussion about the terminology used, with some participants suggesting that simpler language may lead to misunderstandings of complex concepts.
  • A participant expresses a desire to explore speculative ideas about the nature of time and gravity, acknowledging their amateur status in physics.
  • One participant humorously suggests that if the past still existed, it would not be considered the past anymore.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the implications of gravity's relationship with time, with multiple competing views on whether gravity can affect the past or if the past can be said to exist in any meaningful way.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the definitions of terms like "past" and "exist," indicating that the discussion is limited by the ambiguity of these concepts. There is also a recognition that a deeper understanding of the mathematics involved in physics may be necessary to clarify these ideas.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the philosophical implications of physics, particularly in relation to gravity and time, as well as those exploring the boundaries of scientific speculation.

keepitmoving
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gravity reaches across space and apparently reaches across time. If it reaches into the past doesn`t that cause some confusion for those who aren`t involved in the gravity event?
 
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I don't know what "reaches into the past" could possibly mean, but I can tell you that whatever it is, gravity doesn't do this.
 


i guess the way i said that sounded funny. I was referring to the
"warping" of time.
 


Matter warps space time, such that clocks move at different speeds when in different gravitational fields. This doesn't mean gravity affects things in the past...? I guess I don't really get what your question is...
 


not being a professional physicist, i guess i use a simpler language. i was thinking that the warping of spacetime meant the warping of time as well. i used the phrase reaching back in time in a similar way to gravity reaching or warping space. and i was just wondering if that warping went backwards in time. In other words does the past still exist? I know it sounds sci fi, sorry.
 


keepitmoving said:
i was thinking that the warping of spacetime meant the warping of time as well. i used the phrase reaching back in time in a similar way to gravity reaching or warping space.
Warping means here that the distances are distorted. No idea what you mean by "reaching", but i don't think the same. Try to understand what terms actually mean, instead of inventing new synonyms for them, making it hard to understand you.
keepitmoving said:
In other words does the past still exist?
Depends what you mean by "past" and "still exist".
 


A.T. - i appreciate the feedback. I know i`m guilty of over philosophizing physics. I should have used the words "effect the past" rather than "reaching back into the past".
I have read of some professional physicist speculating on this possibility however.
Do you think the past still exists and can it be effected.
By the way, i understand that a professional physicist can`t go willy nilly on wild speculation for professional reasons. Being a relative amateur with nothing to lose however, i can.
Just searching for true physics here!
 


If the past still existed, it wouldn't be the past, it would be the present :wink: Seriously though, gravity doesn't do anything weird like "reaching back in time." An object cannot feel any change in gravity before the event that caused that change took place. (That's using a common-sense definition of "before")

Unfortunately, keepitmoving, I suspect that the simple language you are trying to use is just not precise enough to properly answer your question. I don't mean to sound insulting at all, it's just a fact that in order to really understand physics (such as gravity and time) you need to understand the math.
 


keepitmoving said:
Just searching for true physics here!

Physics is the wrong place to search for truth. Try math. :wink:

certainty.png
 
  • #10


well, is the year 1856 still in existence? I know, i know, it`s a silly question.
 

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