The discussion revolves around the possibility of using distortions in spacetime to describe fundamental forces other than gravity, specifically the electromagnetic force, the strong nuclear force, and the weak force. Participants explore theoretical frameworks and models related to this concept.
Participants express differing views on the potential for spacetime distortions to describe non-gravitational forces, with some asserting limitations and others proposing theoretical possibilities. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the viability of such theories.
There are limitations in the current understanding of how to incorporate non-gravitational forces into a spacetime framework, and the discussion highlights the need for more dimensions or alternative theories, which are not yet fully developed or falsifiable.
Objects with different charge follow different trajectories. You cannot explain that with straight trajectories in curved space time.gulfcoastfella said:Why can't distortions in spacetime be used to describe the fundamental forces other than gravity, i.e. the electromagnetic force, the strong nuclear force, and the weak force?
It's not so much that they "can't" as that nobody has ever invented a theory in which they do. There is no reason in principle why there could not be a theory in which all forces are explained as disturbances in some multi-dimensional manifold. For the disturbances to explain additional forces, I expect the manifold would need more than four dimensions.gulfcoastfella said:Why can't distortions in spacetime be used to describe the fundamental forces other than gravity, i.e. the electromagnetic force, the strong nuclear force, and the weak force?