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eaglechief
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- TL;DR Summary
- (wiki) In the theory of general relativity, the equivalence principle is the equivalence of gravitational and inertial mass, and Albert Einstein's observation that the gravitational "force" as experienced locally while standing on a massive body (such as the Earth) is the same as the pseudo-force experienced by an observer in a non-inertial (accelerated) frame of reference.
Regarding the equivalence principle of GTR, inertial mass and heavy mass are comparable, and are causing identically effects on mass objects.
The pseudo force of inertial mass could be experienced in an accelerated frame of reference. In that point the "Force" appers, while energy is accelerating an object and causes a change of velocity. An observer could see that or even experience that on his own, i.e. when he is inside an accelerating car. This effect is intuitive.
But how does gravity in heavy mass work ? As far as i understood, in an example where an apple is falling from a tree, the apple could be considered as a freefalling frame of reference, and the ground is accelerating towards the apple (because the mass of the Earth is deforming spacetime).
But is that "accelerating of the ground towards the apple" only a mathematical effect, a kind of way the GTR is solving this problem, and/or why is mass curving spacetime at all ?
Thx in advance
Carlo
The pseudo force of inertial mass could be experienced in an accelerated frame of reference. In that point the "Force" appers, while energy is accelerating an object and causes a change of velocity. An observer could see that or even experience that on his own, i.e. when he is inside an accelerating car. This effect is intuitive.
But how does gravity in heavy mass work ? As far as i understood, in an example where an apple is falling from a tree, the apple could be considered as a freefalling frame of reference, and the ground is accelerating towards the apple (because the mass of the Earth is deforming spacetime).
But is that "accelerating of the ground towards the apple" only a mathematical effect, a kind of way the GTR is solving this problem, and/or why is mass curving spacetime at all ?
Thx in advance
Carlo