Acceleration at 1g in space -- Does it create a gravitational field?

In summary, accelerating a body at 1g in outer space does create a gravitational field around it, as every mass has a gravitational field. However, this is not a physical effect, but rather a result of choosing to use accelerating coordinates. In classical physics, the mass of the body is what determines the gravitational field, while considering relativistic effects may require a small correction.
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BigyanAdhikari
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Does a body accelerating at 1g in outer space create a gravitational field around it ?
 
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Why wouldn't it? And what is special about 1g?
 
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BigyanAdhikari said:
Does a body accelerating at 1g in outer space create a gravitational field around it ?
Presumably the body has some mass, and every mass has a gravitational field, so yes. We can plug the mass into Newton's gravitational law ##F=Gm_1m_2/r^2## to see the effect of its gravitational field.

You posted this in the classical physics forum and as far as classica physics is concerned it is irrelevant that the body is accelerating - its mass is what it is, and that's what determines the gravitational field. If we were also considering relativistic effects we would have to make a small correction for the effects of the energy doing the accelerating, but in practice these effects are negligibly small.
 
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BigyanAdhikari said:
Does a body accelerating at 1g in outer space create a gravitational field around it ?
If we choose to treat the accelerating body as being at rest and adopt an accelerating frame of reference in which it is at rest, the result is (locally) indistinguishable from a gravitational field. That is the equivalence principle.

However, this is not a physical effect. It is simply the result of choosing to use coordinates that are accelerating rather than inertial. The coordinates we use to describe a thing have no effect on that thing. With that in mind, I would say that no, accelerating a body does not create a gravitational field.
 
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FAQ: Acceleration at 1g in space -- Does it create a gravitational field?

How does acceleration at 1g in space create a gravitational field?

Acceleration at 1g in space creates a gravitational field because of the equivalence principle, which states that acceleration and gravity are indistinguishable. This means that an object experiencing acceleration at 1g will also experience the same effects as if it were in a gravitational field.

Does the strength of the gravitational field depend on the acceleration rate?

Yes, the strength of the gravitational field is directly proportional to the acceleration rate. This means that the higher the acceleration rate, the stronger the gravitational field will be.

Can acceleration at 1g in space be used to simulate Earth's gravity?

Yes, acceleration at 1g in space can be used to simulate Earth's gravity. This is often done in spacecrafts or space stations to allow astronauts to experience a similar gravitational force as they would on Earth.

Are there any differences between acceleration at 1g in space and Earth's gravity?

Yes, there are some differences between acceleration at 1g in space and Earth's gravity. One major difference is that acceleration at 1g is constant, while Earth's gravity varies depending on an object's distance from the center of the planet.

How does acceleration at 1g in space affect objects of different masses?

Acceleration at 1g in space affects objects of different masses in the same way. This is because the force of gravity is independent of an object's mass, according to Newton's Second Law of Motion.

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