Is total Gravitational force quantifiable?

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of gravitational energy and potential energy in the known universe, and whether it is dependent on the total mass or the distances between objects. The comparison of gravitational energy to other forms of energy in the universe is also mentioned. However, there are difficulties in determining the exact amount of gravitational energy in the universe due to the complexities of General Relativity and the lack of a proper definition for gravitational energy in cosmology.
  • #1
DannyShem
I am sure this question includes multiple mistakes, so please bear with me.

Gravity is force that is capable of doing work (moving objects over a distance). So under some circumstances, force of gravity is a form of energy or potential energy. How much gravitational energy/potential energy exists in the known universe?

Is the total gravitational energy/potential energy simply a function of the total mass of the universe, or does it depend on the distances between objects?

How does gravitational energy/potential energy compare to the quantity of other forms of energy (EM radiation, heat, any others?) in the known universe?

Thanks in advance. Any links or pointers to books/articles would be appreciated.
 
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  • #2
DannyShem said:
I am sure this question includes multiple mistakes, so please bear with me.

Gravity is force that is capable of doing work (moving objects over a distance). So under some circumstances, force of gravity is a form of energy or potential energy. How much gravitational energy/potential energy exists in the known universe?

Is the total gravitational energy/potential energy simply a function of the total mass of the universe, or does it depend on the distances between objects?

How does gravitational energy/potential energy compare to the quantity of other forms of energy (EM radiation, heat, any others?) in the known universe?

Thanks in advance. Any links or pointers to books/articles would be appreciated.
The potential energy occurs when there is an object that can drop through the gravitational field - so it depends on distances.
I suppose the amount of this potential energy in the universe would be what you would release if everything merged into a single massive black hole.
But there are all sorts of problems in determining exactly what that would mean. For one thing, any energy released during that merge process would add mass back into the universe in the form of EM and gravity waves. Would that mean that you had failed to tap all of the potential energy?
 
  • #3
DannyShem said:
How much gravitational energy/potential energy exists in the known universe?

Energy is a very subtle subject in gravitational physics, at least if you consider General Relativity. For example, you can only define a Hamiltonian in the ADM-formalism, i.e. in spacetimes which can be foliated into spacelike hypersurfaces, which is not always true, but e.g. stationary spacetimes provide an example. Unfortunately, the usual cosmological spacetimes violate some asymptotic boundary condition, which in addition is needed to define a conserved energy. Hence, gravitational energy cannot be defined properly in cosmology.

Take a look at this post at stackexchange: https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/2838/total-energy-of-the-universe
 

1. Is total Gravitational force quantifiable?

Yes, total gravitational force is quantifiable. This means it can be measured and expressed numerically using units such as Newtons (N). This force is a fundamental concept in physics and plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior of objects in the universe.

2. How is total gravitational force calculated?

Total gravitational force is calculated using Newton's law of universal gravitation, which states that the force of gravity between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This can be expressed as F = G (m1m2)/r^2, where G is the gravitational constant, m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects, and r is the distance between them.

3. Can we measure the total gravitational force of an object?

Yes, we can measure the total gravitational force of an object by using a gravitational force meter or scale. These tools use the concept of weight (the force of gravity on an object) to measure the gravitational force acting on the object. However, it is important to note that gravitational force is a vector quantity and also depends on the direction and location of the objects.

4. How does the magnitude of total gravitational force change with distance?

The magnitude of total gravitational force decreases as the distance between two objects increases. This is because the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the objects. As the distance doubles, the force decreases by a factor of four. This relationship is known as the inverse-square law of gravitational force.

5. Is there a limit to the strength of total gravitational force?

No, there is no limit to the strength of total gravitational force. As long as there are two objects with mass, there will always be a force of attraction between them. However, the strength of this force can vary greatly depending on the masses and distances of the objects involved.

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