Time dilation explanation for gravity?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between time dilation and gravity, particularly in the context of General Relativity (GR) and its Newtonian limit. Participants explore how time dilation might explain gravitational effects, the mathematical formulations involved, and the implications for understanding gravitational forces on different bodies.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant recalls a post suggesting that gravity in the Newtonian limit can be explained solely through time dilation and seeks clarification on this idea.
  • Another participant explains that in the weak field limit, the time dilation factor, represented by g_00, acts like the gravitational potential, referencing the equation -g_{00} = 1 + \frac{2\phi}{c^2}.
  • A participant questions how the Newtonian gravitational potential of -2GM/R is derived from the time dilation factor and expresses uncertainty about the relationship between the terms involved.
  • Another participant asserts that GR does not exert gravitational forces on free-falling bodies, but questions how it affects stationary bodies, pondering whether the usual GM/R^2 applies.
  • One participant claims that starting from the Einstein Field Equations (EFE) with a simple source can lead to the recovery of the inverse square law of gravity, suggesting that a function of g_00 plays the role of the potential.
  • A participant proposes that using GR without curved spacetime requires altering fundamental constants, which prompts skepticism from another participant regarding the validity of this approach.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between time dilation and gravitational effects, with some supporting the idea that time dilation can explain gravity while others challenge or question this perspective. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing views present.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific mathematical formulations and approximations, but there are unresolved questions regarding the derivation of gravitational potentials and the implications of GR on stationary versus free-falling bodies.

yuiop
Messages
3,962
Reaction score
20
Hi,

I seem to recall reading a post a long time ago (that I cannot find) that gravity in the Newtonian limit (eg the Solar system) can be completely explained in terms of time dilation alone. Is that true and if so, how does that work?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
In the weak field limit, when GR goes to Newtonian gravity, a function of g_00 acts like the potential, and g_00 is the time dilation factor ( or it's square root).

In fact,

[tex]-g_{00} = 1 + \frac{2\phi}{c^2}[/tex]

Is this what you mean ?
 
Last edited:
Mentz114 said:
In the weak field limit, when GR goes to Newtonian gravity, a function of g_00 acts like the potential, and g_00 is the time dilation factor ( or it's square root).

In fact,

[tex]-g_{00} = 1 + \frac{2\phi}{c^2}[/tex]

Is this what you mean ?

Not sure. Assuming [tex]\phi = GM/R[/tex]

and [tex]-g_{00} = 1 + \frac{2GM}{Rc^2}[/tex]

is obtained from the binomial aproximation of [tex]\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-2GM/Rc^2}}[/tex]

How is the Newtonian of gravitational potential of -2GM/R obtained from that?
Where do the +1 and c^2 go and how is the inverse square law of gravity recovered?

Also, as I understand it. GR does not have gravitational forces acting on a free falling body, but there still are gravitational forces acting on a stationary body. Does GR alter the force felt by a stationary body or is it the usual GM/R^2?
 
Kev,
it takes four pages to demonstrate properly, but if you start with the EFE with a simple source, and let most of the gradients involved disappear, then solve the equations of motion you get an inverse square force law, with a function of g_00 playing the part of the potential. Newtonian gravity is recovered in full. Quite a triumph, in fact.

In my earlier post, phi is not the Newtonian potential, but a function of it.

Here's a good explanatory article.

http://www.mth.uct.ac.za/omei/gr/chap7/node3.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
If you want to use GR without a curved spacetime you have to to alter the constants that GR uses like C and the Planck length and make them rubbery. You can then use euclidian flat space still using G as a constant.
 
mojocujo said:
If you want to use GR without a curved spacetime you have to to alter the constants that GR uses like C and the Planck length and make them rubbery. You can then use euclidian flat space still using G as a constant.

Sounds dodgy to me. GR does not have a length scale. Care to elucidate ?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 46 ·
2
Replies
46
Views
5K
  • · Replies 103 ·
4
Replies
103
Views
8K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 61 ·
3
Replies
61
Views
5K
  • · Replies 37 ·
2
Replies
37
Views
6K
  • · Replies 40 ·
2
Replies
40
Views
7K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 65 ·
3
Replies
65
Views
13K