What is the Reason for Gravitation?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the question of the reason for gravitation, exploring various theoretical perspectives and interpretations related to gravity. Participants delve into concepts from general relativity, spacetime curvature, and speculative theories, while also addressing the limitations of current understanding in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the reason for gravitation is not fully understood, with one noting that "no one knows why there is gravity."
  • It is proposed that matter and energy cause spacetime to curve, which leads to the effects of gravity as described by Einstein's theory of general relativity.
  • One participant uses a trampoline analogy to illustrate how mass curves spacetime, affecting the movement of other objects.
  • A different perspective is introduced, suggesting that viewing the universe as an expanding hypersphere could explain gravity through the relationship between mass and time travel.
  • Another participant emphasizes that while the "how" of gravity can be explained through spacetime curvature, the "why" remains unanswered in physics.
  • Gravitational field equations are mentioned, highlighting the complexity of the mathematical framework underlying gravitational theory.
  • String theory is briefly suggested as a theoretical framework that could provide insights into the nature of gravity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement regarding the nature of gravity and the adequacy of current explanations. While some agree on the role of spacetime curvature, others introduce alternative models and emphasize the unresolved nature of the "why" question.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects limitations in addressing foundational questions about gravity, with participants acknowledging that certain assumptions and definitions are necessary for deeper exploration. The complexity of gravitational field equations and the speculative nature of some proposed theories are also noted.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring fundamental questions in physics, particularly those curious about the nature of gravity and the theoretical frameworks that attempt to explain it.

priya_india
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hey! can anyone tell me the reason for gravitation?
it may seem a very simple but i have not been able to find it anywhare.and i think no one in the world knows it.
 
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Nope, no one knows why there is gravity. Maybe whoever or whatever created the universe thought it would be cool for matter to stick together. :cool:

Seriously, though, there are different kinds of "why" explanations, also I guess English might not be your native language. Perhaps you should explain in more detail what sort of answer you are looking for.

The usual answer that you'll probably get from physicists is that matter and energy cause spacetime to curve, and that causes the "natural" paths of objects to come together as if they were attracted by a force. That's the explanation provided by Einstein's theory of general relativity. About that, you should ask in the relativity forum, the next one down from this one.
 
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Yup. The presence of matter curves spacetime in such a way as traveling through time now causes you to move (accelerate) through space.
 
you can imagine this "curve" of space-time better if you think of a 2d universe. If you stick a bowling ball on a trampoline, it curves the surface of the trampoline so that if you stick a marble on it, it will be "attracted" to the bowling ball and may even orbit it once or twice.
 
priya_india said:
hey! can anyone tell me the reason for gravitation?
it may seem a very simple but i have not been able to find it anywhare.and i think no one in the world knows it.

I know it : see http://home.online.no/~avannieu/darkmatter/
and look at the first article (on quantum gravity).
 
Last edited by a moderator:
priya_india said:
hey! can anyone tell me the reason for gravitation?
it may seem a very simple but i have not been able to find it anywhare.and i think no one in the world knows it.

Nope, the "why" questions can't be answered in physics. We know "how": space-time curvature generate what we feel as gravity.

gijeqkeij


Universe principles are so simple that it's almost impossible for us to understand them
 
if you view the universe as an expanding hypersphere you can explain gravity by saying that the more massive an object is the slower it travels through time. it would be like blowing up a balloon but sticking your finger in the way. With the universing expanding faster than massive objects, curves are formed like gravity. This isn't exactly complete though, youd still have to accept some unexplained force that makes massive objects age slower. Maybe the fact that the universe's expansion is accelerating (not sure if that's right) explains that though (i.e. F = ma).
 
priya_india said:
hey! can anyone tell me the reason for gravitation?
it may seem a very simple but i have not been able to find it anywhare.and i think no one in the world knows it.

Nope, the "why" questions can't be answered in physics. We know "how": space-time curvature generate what we feel as gravity.

gijeqkeij


Universe principles are so simple that it's almost impossible for us to understand them
 
umm whyd you say the exact same thing twice?
 
  • #10
gijeqkeij,

I know it's not possible to have LaTeX, or even any semblance of formatting, for usernames, but one can in posts. Perhaps it might be better to answer OP's questions with better formatting for equations.

Gravitational field equations are:

[tex]G_{ij} = kT_{ij}[/tex]

There's only one equation there, I hear you say. So why did I use the plural "equations" above? Well, [itex]i,j=1,2,3,4[/itex], so there are 16 equations.

There's lots more about this equation, and what it actually means (and what k is), in all kinds of books and websites. So I won't comment here. In fact, I'm not even sure who I've really addressed this to. I know it says gijeqkeij at the top, but he/she is presumably familiar with all this already. In any case, I've typed it, so I'll post it.
 
  • #11
Theoratical physicists have suggested string theory. Just type in " String Theory " in google and discover the fascinating world about it! :D
 

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