The Role of Gravitation in Particle Physics: Beyond the Everyday Interactions

In summary, the classification of gravitation as a fundamental force is largely due to historical reasons and is not completely accurate. While it is the weakest of the four interactions and is often ignored in everyday particle physics, it plays a crucial role in extreme environments such as neutron stars and black holes.
  • #1
azabak
32
0
Why is gravitation still considered a Fundamental Force when General Relativity says that it is a geometric effect of inertia and space-time curvature?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Likely no real reason anymore...just a classification...an historical artifact like so many other things

The Wikipedia description of fundamental focres is typical:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fundamental_forces

and reading it suggests

...Gravitation is by far the weakest of the four interactions. Hence it is always ignored when doing particle physics...

but this is not very accurate... they should say "everyday" or 'typical' particle physics.
In studying high energy collisions for example,such as at CERN, gravity isn't usually simportant...BUT

'particle physics' in neutron stars and black holes, for example, and with electron, neutron, and quark degeneracies gravity is EVERYTHING...
 

FAQ: The Role of Gravitation in Particle Physics: Beyond the Everyday Interactions

What is gravitation?

Gravitation, also known as gravity, is a natural phenomenon by which all objects with mass are attracted to one another. This force of attraction is directly proportional to the mass of the objects and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.

How does gravitation work?

According to the theory of general relativity, gravitation is caused by the curvature of space-time. The presence of mass or energy causes space-time to curve, and objects with mass follow this curved path. This is why objects with mass are attracted to one another.

What is the difference between gravitation and electromagnetism?

Gravitation is a force of attraction between objects with mass, while electromagnetism is a force between charged particles. Gravitation is always attractive, while electromagnetism can be either attractive or repulsive.

Is gravitation a strong or weak force?

In comparison to other fundamental forces, such as the strong and weak nuclear forces, gravitation is considered a weak force. This is because it has a relatively small strength and only becomes significant when dealing with large masses, such as planets and stars.

What are some real-life applications of gravitation?

Gravitation plays a crucial role in many aspects of our daily lives, such as keeping planets in orbit around the sun, causing tides in the ocean, and allowing us to walk on the surface of the Earth. It also has practical applications in fields such as space travel, satellite communication, and navigation systems.

Back
Top