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Feedback Comments on Gravitation
by Ron Kurtus
A total of 23 comments and questions have been sent in on Gravitation. They are listed according to date. Also see Gravity Feedback for questions on that topic.
List of the most recent 10 items
- Did Newton discover gravitation?
- Gravitational dipole radiation
- Gravitation and curved space
- How are black holes detected?
- Device that affects graviton particles
- Universal Gravitational Constant in a Black Hole
- How do you measure something faster than light?
- Equivalence of gravitation
- Does escape velocity depend on direction?
- When a rocket blasts toward the Sun
Gravitation
Did Newton discover gravitation?
Question
December 23, 2012
Thank you so much; that was so helpful!
So then, to say Newton discovered the gravitational force is true? Because I suppose "Gravity" is just another form of gravitational force, one toward a planet. So, Newton then discovered one kind of gravitational force that led to the discovery of others. Am I right?!
I guess my question is, what did Newton discover?! It sounds weird, I know. I suppose he discovered the force that pulls us to Earth, Gravity, that in turn led him to discover The Law of Universal Gravitation, which states that all objects attract each other due to their mass.
Thank you so much for your time.
Your website is very helpful, and your explanation easy to understand.
Yasmin - USA
23079
Answer
The story is that Isaac Newton became interested in gravity when he saw an apple fall from a tree. But he was also interested in astronomy and the laws of Kepler about the motion of the planets. After studying how the planets moved, he derived his Law of Universal Gravitation. A number of other scientist were also working on the theory at the same time, and he often communicated with them.
Besides being affected by the product of the masses of the two objects, the Law of Universal Gravitation also says that the force varies with the inverse of the square of the distance between them, such that the closed the objects are to each other, the stronger the force of attraction.
Best wishes in your science studies.
Gravitation
Gravitational dipole radiation
Question
December 10, 2011
I have been working on the subject of gravitation for many years. My results are shown on my Gravitation homepage.
The crucial matter seems to be gravitational dipole radiation. If you accept this phenominon you end up with a result capable of explaining boath dark matter and dark energy.
Yours sincerely
Boris - Sweden
22262
Answer
Although electrical and magnetic forces are dipole in that they require opposite poles, most theories say that gravitational forces are monopole. However, there are indications that gravitation may also be dipole in some form.
A good article on the subject is Gravitational Dipole (PDF).
In your page, you mention the exchange of energy between matter and ether. Although the theory that space is made of ether is considered obsolete, I feel it still has some possibilities.
Best wishes in your continued study of gravitation.
Gravitation
Gravitation and curved space
Question
November 3, 2011
IF MASS IS EQUIVALENT TO ENERGY FROM E=MCSQUARED - THE N THE EARTH FOR EXAMPLE WE WOULD EXPECT TO DEVELOPE A REDUCING ENERGY GRADIENT THROUGH AMBIENT SPACE.IN FACT IT DOES ACC TO THE LAW OF UG - THIS EXPLAINATION FOR THE CAUSE OF GRAVITATION SEEMS TO SATISFY ME.HOWEVER I HAVE NOT SEEN IT GENERALLY EXPRESSED IN TEXTBOOKS. THE GENERAL RELATIVITY THEORY OF GRAVITATION IS SO PROFOUND I BELIEVE THAT DIRAC ONCE SAID IF IT HADNT BEEN FOR EINSTEIN WE WOULD NEVER HAVE COME TO IT. WHEN PHYSICISTS TALK OF MATTER CURVING SPACE DOES THIS MEAN THE EFFECT OF THE EARTHS REDUCING ENERGY GRADIENT-OR IS IT MORE PROFOUND.
BILL - UK
22133
Answer
If the mass "m" was changed to electromagnetic radiation, its energy would be E = mc^2. Einstein certainly was instrumental is establishing the General Relativity Theory of Gravitation. Others had worked on it, but he was the one who put the concept together.
Space seems to be much more than where no matter exists. Space has properties, and one of them is its geometry is affected by matter, such that the lines of space curve toward objects of mass.
For an overview, see General Relativity Theory of Gravitation.
I'm not sure what you mean by the Earth's energy gradient.
Gravitation
How are black holes detected?
Question
August 13, 2011
I answered 3 questions out of that 2 was right,I ma really interested in studing black holes and I want to ask one thing how black holes are detected through space it is said that no light can escape through it
George - India
21887
Answer
When astronomers observe stars over a period of time, they may see some of them vanish when they pass by a certain point in space. A reason the star seems to vanish is because there is a black hole in between the star and the Earth.
The black hole does not give off light, and it also blocks or absorbs light coming from another object.
Gravitation
Device that affects graviton particles
Question
August 12, 2011
I have a question, What if I told you that I think I figured out how to combine a magnetic field with a gravitational field, by understanding how matter exchanges graviton particles, I have a idea for a device, If I put it together,, Would it be dangerous,, I do not want to take chances.
Nick - USA
21886
Answer
A strong gravitational field can distort a magnetic field. The opposite may also be true.
If you have a device that can measure the exchange of gravitons or affect them with a magnetic field, I doubt that it would be dangerous. The biggest problem is in verifying the effect you are trying to do.
Gravitation
Universal Gravitational Constant in a Black Hole
Question
July 13, 2011
what is the value of universal gravitational constant on black hole ?
- India
21809
Answer
The Universal Gravitational Constant is a proportionality factor for the force between two masses at some distance. The value has been determined experimentally.
At quantum sizes and distances, the value of the Gravitational Constant is no longer constant. However it has not been accurately measured.
Likewise, in the extreme case of inside a Black Hole, the Constant also fails. Unfortunately, its value or variation has not been determined.
Gravitation
How do you measure something faster than light?
Question
June 29, 2011
Hello.
How do you measure if something is faster than light?
Despot - Serbia
21776
Answer
According to the Theory of Relativity, no objects or waves can travel faster than light. To measure the speed of something, you need to know the distance traveled and then measure the time it takes to go that distance.
Gravitation
Equivalence of gravitation
Question
June 28, 2011
Einstein demonstrated that a gravitational (stationary environment) and acceleration (motion) are equivalent. But since the corresponding velocities and displacements for the gravity and acceleration environs are not the same is it still OK to conclude that gravity and acceleration are equivalent?
John - USA
21773
Answer
This is known as the Strong Equivalence Principle or the Einstein Equivalence Principle. A brief explanation is seen at Equivalence Principles of Gravitation
Gravitation
Does escape velocity depend on direction?
Question
April 8, 2011
You say that the escape velocity doesn't depend on direction; but if an object is projected at an angle other than normally to the earth surface I suppose that it should travel a less radial distance from the earth's center for the same launch velocity; and so I assume that the direction may be relevant to an object trying to reach infinity (speaking strictly theoretically)and hence the (escape)velocity at which it is launched. I would really appreciate an elucidation of why it is escape speed (strictly speaking) and not velocity.
Thank you
- Nigeria
21456
Answer
Escape velocity can occur for an object projected vertical or normal to the Earth's surface or at other angles up to being tangent to the surface. At the tangent angle (90 degree from the vertical), the object will travel in a parabola which extends to infinity, provided the velocity is great enough.
At greater angles than 90 degrees from the vertical, the object will probably strike the Earth's surface, preventing it from going into space.
Some sources call it escape speed and say that any direction is possible. However, since there are limitations on the projected angles, I prefer to consider it escape velocity, especially since you can define the exact direction that you are projecting the object.
Gravitation
When a rocket blasts toward the Sun
Question
January 30, 2011
As it pertains to escape velocity from earth with the sun's influence, if the equation and numbers are correct, if a rocket blasts off directly toward the sun, then the sun would pull the rocket off of the earth and accelerate it away since the Sun's Ve was about twice that of Earth's. Am I reading that right?
Mike - USA
21115
Answer
The derivation of the escape velocity requires the object or rocket to start at an initial velocity and move away from the gravitational force, slowing down, until it reached the hypothetical infinite distance.
However, when the rocket escapes the Earth and moves toward the Sun, the gravitational attraction of the Sun increases the rocket's speed until it crashes into the Sun. The escape velocity equation does not work in that situation, since the external force from the Sun is influencing and increasing the rocket's velocity.
The situation would require combining the opposing forces from the Earth and the Sun on the rocket.
Since you brought this up, I will add a clarification about this situation in the lesson.
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