Well, its a geometric deformation of space-time by the force of mass
Comment on we are but a gravy train in outer space
Chrobin@discuss.tchncs.de 4 weeks ago
Gravity isn’t a force tho…
Zerush@lemmy.ml 4 weeks ago
quicksand@lemm.ee 4 weeks ago
Yes it is. We just don’t know what makes it work
Chrobin@discuss.tchncs.de 4 weeks ago
In our current understanding of physics, it’s an effect from the curvature of space and not a force. Quantizing gravity results in unphysical divergences. Whether there will be a way to model gravity as an exchange of particles, we can’t know for sure. So according to our current knowledge, it’s not a force.
JillyB@beehaw.org 4 weeks ago
I’m no scientist, but there is some debate about whether it’s a fundamental force. Some think it might be like centrifugal force which isn’t “real” but shows up in a certain reference frame. Gravity might actually be a result of thermodynamics and entropy.
oce@jlai.lu 4 weeks ago
There are many things than we experience as forces but may not be actually if you change the reference (ex: centrifugal force is inertia) or if you go deeper into unification (ex: electrostatic force and magnetic force can be unified into electromagnetic force). But physics is about modeling reality in a convenient way for you current reference, we will never be certain to have the “real” final force model.
cynar@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
Knowledge is knowing that tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is still not putting it in a fruit salad.
Gravity isn’t a force. Its effects can be mapped to an equivalent pseudo force and used as such. Outside of general relativity, or Quantum mechanics discussions, gravity is a force.
bwrsandman@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
But is it fundamental though?
cynar@lemmy.world 4 weeks ago
We don’t know. Right now, relativity and QM fundamentally disagree on what gravity is. Both are also hugely accurate in their predictions. QM treats it as a force comparable to EM or the strong force. GR says it’s space itself moving. The force we experience is just a reaction to us trying to stay still, as space moves through us.
Beyond that, defining anything as fundamental is a challenge. How are you using fundamental?
oce@jlai.lu 4 weeks ago
Depends on your definition. If you stop at quantum mechanics way of defining a force with boson exchange then you may also say gravity doesn’t exist, because it’s not included in the standard model for now.
Chrobin@discuss.tchncs.de 4 weeks ago
Well, firstly, we can quantize gravity pretty easily, it just has unphysical divergences.
But secondly, I think it makes most sense to talk about the current accepted physics because we don’t know how quantum gravity will work.
JizzmasterD@lemmy.ca 4 weeks ago
Don’t be saucy
JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 4 weeks ago
I put it in my force balance equations, it’s a force. It doesn’t matter that it’s from curving spacetime rather than exchanging particles, it still exerts force on things.
Chrobin@discuss.tchncs.de 4 weeks ago
But the point of general relativity is that a free-floating observer is equivalent to an observer in free space. That means that falling due to gravity, which you call a force, is an unaccelerated movement, i.e. no force.
JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 4 weeks ago
If I take a relativistic frame of reference. If I take an ‘absolute’ non moving frame of reference, gravity shows up as a force. I use the later for calculating loads and statics, even though it’s technically not correct. And in that case gravity shows up as a force.
Chrobin@discuss.tchncs.de 4 weeks ago
I’m not trying to argue approximations. Physics is just approximations all the way down. But as a physicist, I also love arguing about technicalities, and that’s also kinda the point of science communities for me.