Spacetime Curvature Difference: Gravity vs Speed

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SUMMARY

The discussion clarifies that gravity causes spacetime to warp, while relative speed does not induce spacetime curvature. Instead, relative speed results in observable effects such as length contraction and time dilation, which occur in flat, uncurved spacetime. The shape of objects, such as protons, remains spherical under gravitational influence but appears elongated to a stationary observer when subjected to relative speed. Thus, the fundamental difference lies in the nature of spacetime curvature: gravity creates it, while speed merely alters perception without actual curvature.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of general relativity principles
  • Familiarity with special relativity concepts
  • Knowledge of spacetime geometry
  • Basic physics of particles, specifically protons
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the implications of general relativity on spacetime curvature
  • Study special relativity effects, focusing on length contraction and time dilation
  • Investigate the geometry of spacetime in flat vs. curved scenarios
  • Examine the behavior of particles in different gravitational fields
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, students of theoretical physics, and anyone interested in the distinctions between gravitational effects and relativistic phenomena in spacetime.

Gerinski
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Gravity causes spacetime to warp. Relative speed also causes an apparent warp from the point of view of the stationary observer.

But warp due to relative speed will cause rods to contract, rods will effectively measure shorter for the stationary observer. Accordingly we should also infer that something like a proton, which we assume to be roughly spherical, will appear as a vertically elongated shape, something like a banana, when subject to relative speed warp.

Warp due to a gravity well does not do that, a proton size and shape is the same in the center of a massive star or floating in the empty vacuum, always roughly spherical and the same size.

In which way is the spacetime curvature different when due to relative speed differences or when due to gravity wells?
 
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Gerinski said:
In which way is the spacetime curvature different when due to relative speed differences or when due to gravity wells?
There is no spacetime curvature due to relative speed differences.
 
There is no spacetime curvature caused by speed. Special relativistic effects such as length contraction and time dilation are not caused by warping or curving spacetime, they're just using different coordinates to describe something that's happening in flat uncurved spacetime.
 

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