Quote:
Originally posted by Peetster
You mean 9.8 meters per second squared. Meters per second is just a velocity. ;-)
Rogue, I think we need to come closer to a unified theory before we can explain "why" gravity does what it does. I personally have no clue. As a Kant fan, I just observe my surroundings and hope they don’t change laws tomorrow. :-)
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Actually, we don't need to come even close to a unified theory to explain this.
First, gravity is explained pretty much by Einstein's General Theory of Relativity
which states that ANY mass "warps" the Space-Time surrounding it.
Kind of like a bowling ball in the middle of a rubber mat.
And if we pretend "we" are a marble moving at a certain rate near this mat,
we can see the effects of gravity.
If you are moving at a fast enough rate, in comparison of the warping caused by the ball,
then the path will curve and then escape area of the warp.
If you are moving at a constant rate in comparison but not fast enough to escape the area,
the marble will start circling the ball at a certain distance or "orbit"
If you are moving too slowly in comparison,
the marble will curve "fall" to the edge of the ball and come to rest against it.
This is why we stand on the Earth
We are constantly falling toward the middle, but the Earth holds us with its substance.
BTW, by this very definition, I doubt Gravity will ever "fit" into a Unified Theory
with the other 3 forces (Strong, Weak, and Electro-Magnetism)
Because with this significant description we see Gravity is not a force,
it is an effect, an illusionary "force" caused by the warping of Space-Time.
It can be used as a force in certain calculations but it's not actually one.
Thus the Unified Theory as they are now defining it will fail,
Until they change their conceptual viewpoints.