Insights Slowly Lowering an Object in a Static, Spherically Symmetric Spacetime

Thread starter PeterDonis
Start date Apr 15, 2020
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Spacetime Static Symmetric

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the extraction of work when slowly lowering an object into a static, spherically symmetric gravitational field, utilizing the Einstein Field Equation and Maxwell’s Equations. The concept of potential energy is defined in this context, emphasizing the relationship between gravitational fields and energy extraction. The analysis builds on previous articles, providing a concrete understanding of potential energy through physical examples.

PREREQUISITES

Understanding of Einstein Field Equations
Familiarity with Maxwell’s Equations
Knowledge of gravitational fields and potential energy
Basic principles of classical mechanics

NEXT STEPS

Study the implications of the Einstein Field Equations in various gravitational contexts
Explore Maxwell’s Equations and their applications in electromagnetism
Research the concept of potential energy in different physical systems
Investigate the effects of radial motion on energy extraction in gravitational fields

USEFUL FOR

Physicists, students of general relativity, and anyone interested in the dynamics of gravitational fields and energy extraction methods.

Apr 15, 2020

PeterDonis

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Insights Author

In the first two articles in this series, we looked at the Einstein Field Equation and Maxwell’s Equations in a static, spherically symmetric spacetime. Using formulas from those two previous articles, I now want to consider the question: what is the maximum amount of work that can be extracted by slowly lowering an object into a static, spherically symmetric gravitational field? This is a concrete, physical way of defining the concept of “potential energy”. (We’ll come back to the concept of “potential energy” and its relationship to other concepts of energy at the end of this article.)
We start with some comments and definitions. By “slowly lowering” we mean that the radial motion of the object is at some very slow, constant speed so that we...

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