Exploring the Principle of Equilance and Its Implications

  • Thread starter waqarrashid33
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In summary, the principle of equivalence says that the effects of a local gravitational experiment are the same in free-fall as they would be in any other inertial frame of reference. However, there is the phenomenon of gravitational lensing, in which the gravitational field of a much larger object can be distorted by the presence of a nearby object.
  • #1
waqarrashid33
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I had a problem that the principle of equilance is saying that one can't say either he is acclerating upward or standing in garvity.
but i am saying that it is possible b/c in gravity when two bodies are falling under the action of gravity then as time passes they become closer to each other while in simple accleration this does,t happens,
why?
 
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  • #2
hi waqarrashid33! :wink:

yes, you're correct :smile: …

the difference would only be undetectable in a uniform gravitational field …

in any other field, there will always be a slight difference (known as "tidal effects")


for details, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principle_of_equivalence#The_Einstein_equivalence_principle", including …
The Einstein equivalence principle states that the weak equivalence principle holds, and that:

The outcome of any local non-gravitational experiment in a freely falling laboratory is independent of the velocity of the laboratory and its location in spacetime.

Here "local" has a very special meaning: not only must the experiment not look outside the laboratory, but it must also be small compared to variations in the gravitational field, tidal forces, so that the entire laboratory is freely falling. It also implies the absence of interactions with "external" fields other than the gravitational field.​
 
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  • #3
Is garvitational force depend upon meium?
 
  • #4
What "medium" are you talking about?
 
  • #5
waqarrashid33 said:
Is garvitational force depend upon meium?

similar to the multiplicative difference to electric force caused by the dielectric?

my immediate reaction is to say "no" …

gravitational effect depends only on the metric of space-time (the curvature coefficients), and will be the same whatever the medium …

however the medium itself has a gravitational effect, from its mass, from its pressure, and from any other form of energy in it, so in that sense it makes an additive difference …

ie a tiny adjustment, but not a multiplicative difference that scales-down any "outside" gravitational effect

on the other hand, there is such a thing as gravitational lensing, which i suppose is in a sense a way in which a truly enormous amount of medium can influence the gravitational field

(and if anyone ever manages to develop a workable theory of quantum gravity, i suppose that may show some "dielectric" effects)

perhaps you should have raised this in a separate thread?​
 

1. What is the principle of equivalence?

The principle of equivalence is a fundamental concept in physics that states that the effects of gravity and acceleration are indistinguishable. In other words, the force of gravity experienced by an object is equivalent to the force of acceleration on that same object.

2. How was the principle of equivalence discovered?

The principle of equivalence was first proposed by Albert Einstein in his theory of general relativity in 1915. It was later confirmed through various experiments, including the famous Eötvös experiment which showed that the gravitational mass and inertial mass of an object are equivalent.

3. What are the implications of the principle of equivalence?

The principle of equivalence has several important implications in physics. It allows for the unification of gravity and acceleration, and it is the basis for the concept of spacetime curvature in general relativity. It also has practical applications in fields such as navigation and space travel.

4. How does the principle of equivalence apply to everyday life?

Although the principle of equivalence is a fundamental concept in physics, its effects can be observed in everyday life. For example, when you are in an elevator that is accelerating upwards, you feel heavier because your weight is equivalent to the force of acceleration. This is also why astronauts experience weightlessness in orbit, as they are in a state of free fall due to the equivalence of gravity and acceleration.

5. Are there any limitations to the principle of equivalence?

While the principle of equivalence has been confirmed by numerous experiments, it is not a perfect principle and has its limitations. For example, it does not apply in extreme conditions such as near the event horizon of a black hole. It also does not account for quantum effects, which require a different framework of understanding. Nonetheless, the principle of equivalence remains a crucial concept in understanding the fundamental laws of the universe.

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