High School Is gravity both a force and not a force?

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The discussion centers on the dual nature of gravity, where it can be viewed both as a force and not a force, depending on the context. In Newtonian physics, gravity is treated as a force for practical calculations, while general relativity describes it as a curvature of spacetime, which is more accurate for massive bodies like galaxies. Participants debate the limitations of each model, emphasizing that Newton's approach is simpler but less comprehensive than Einstein's. They also highlight that gravity's effects, such as gravitational time dilation and light bending, cannot be fully explained by treating gravity solely as a force. Ultimately, a complete understanding of gravity requires moving beyond the force model to incorporate the principles of general relativity.
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jbriggs444 said:
In science, if you can never detect it, you can safely ignore it and let Occam's razor cut it away.

I was trying to point out a conceptual inconsistency in Newtonian mechanics. Had Einstein ignored it, we would not have general relativity today.

Demystifier said:
Before dealing with gravity and general relativity, one should ask and answer an analogous question in Newtonian mechanics: Is inertial force a force or not a force? After answering that one, the gravity case is conceptually much easier.

Yes, that's what I meant with 'forces' causing 'relative acceleration'.
 

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