Gravity: Not Proportional to Inverse Square?

In summary, the conversation revolved around the force of gravity and how it is described by the equation proportional to the inverse square of the distance. However, it was mentioned that Einstein and other researchers had shown that the equation may actually be proportional to something along the lines of 2.000006. The conversation then delved into the coordinate acceleration due to gravity and the acceleration measured locally, with the suggestion to substitute the mass and radius of the Earth to see how the predictions differ between Newtonian and general relativity at the Earth's surface.
  • #1
pantheid
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Hi, a long time ago, back in high school, I remember my teacher was explaining the force of gravity to us. He gave us the equation for the force of gravity, which was proportional to the inverse square of the distance. However, he later said that something about Einstein and other researchers had shown that it was actually proportional to something along the lines of 2.000006 (if memory serves), but I have not been able to find any such material online, and no other professor in college has even mentioned such a thing. Is my memory of the class faulty, is he mistaken, or is this some arcane knowledge that is interesting but unimportant?
 
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  • #2
The coordinate acceleration due to gravity in Schwarzschild coordinates is:

##\frac{d^2r}{dt^2} = \frac{M}{r^2} \left(1-\frac{2GM}{rc^2}\right)##

The acceleration measured locally at r is:

##\frac{d^2r'}{d\tau^2} = \frac{M}{r^2} \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-\frac{2GM}{rc^2}}}##

I will leave it to you to substitute the mass and radius of the Earth for M and r and see how the Newtonian prediction differs from the GR prediction at the Earth's surface.
 

FAQ: Gravity: Not Proportional to Inverse Square?

1. What is the concept of "Gravity: Not Proportional to Inverse Square"?

The concept of "Gravity: Not Proportional to Inverse Square" refers to the idea that the strength of gravitational force between two objects is not always inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This is in contrast to the commonly accepted inverse square law of gravity.

2. What evidence supports the idea of "Gravity: Not Proportional to Inverse Square"?

There have been several observations and experiments that suggest that the inverse square law of gravity may not be accurate in all situations. Some studies have shown that at very small distances, such as within the nucleus of an atom, the force of gravity may follow a different mathematical relationship. Additionally, the observation of the accelerating expansion of the universe has led to the development of theories that propose modifications to the inverse square law.

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If the concept of "Gravity: Not Proportional to Inverse Square" is proven to be true, it could have significant implications for our understanding of the universe. It could help explain phenomena that are currently not well understood, such as the large-scale structure of the universe and the behavior of dark matter and dark energy. It could also lead to the development of new theories and models of gravity that could revolutionize our understanding of the fundamental forces of nature.

4. Are there any real-world applications of "Gravity: Not Proportional to Inverse Square"?

While the concept of "Gravity: Not Proportional to Inverse Square" is still largely theoretical, there are some potential real-world applications that could come from a better understanding of gravity. For example, if we could manipulate the strength of gravity at small distances, it could have practical applications in fields such as nanotechnology and quantum computing.

5. How are scientists currently studying "Gravity: Not Proportional to Inverse Square"?

Scientists are studying "Gravity: Not Proportional to Inverse Square" through a combination of theoretical calculations, laboratory experiments, and observations of the universe. Some experiments involve measuring the gravitational force between objects at very small distances, while others involve studying the behavior of galaxies and other celestial objects. Scientists are also developing new theories and models of gravity to better understand how it behaves in different scenarios.

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