Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: D on 29/03/2016 20:01:03

Title: General Relativity explanation of gravity
Post by: D on 29/03/2016 20:01:03
So i recently learned about general relativity explanation of gravity, my question is if according to general relativity gravity is curves in the fabrics of space time, does that mean there's no graviton (boson for gravity) or is it the graviton that causes curves in the fabrics of space time?
Title: Re: General Relativity explanation of gravity
Post by: jeffreyH on 29/03/2016 20:06:47
No one knows either way. Since the discovery of gravitational waves it is thought more likely that a force carrier exists. However detecting them is very difficult due to the weakness of the force. Others more knowledgeable in this area may shed more light on the subject.
Title: Re: General Relativity explanation of gravity
Post by: evan_au on 29/03/2016 22:02:42
Quote from: D
general relativity explanation of gravity
The general relativity explanation of gravity is known to be incomplete, because it cannot be rationalized with the quantum world (it keeps blowing up into infinities).

The graviton is the name given to the hypothetical quantum particle of gravity - if a massless spin 2 particle is ever detected, it will be a graviton. But it is still an active area of research; current theories which might one day resolve the issue include string theory and quantum loop gravity.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graviton
Title: Re: General Relativity explanation of gravity
Post by: JoeBrown on 30/03/2016 04:51:10
It could be noted...  Probably is elsewhere:

General Relativity doesn't describe single mass entities, instead it describes collections of mass (peculiarly) in a singular type fashion of center of mass (COM) (often referred to as a point).

Quantum Mechanics associates particles to mass in a more direct/individual fashion.  However, at the quantum level, electromagnetism has more relevance than mass, in such association.


GR - lots of mass, shining lights don't change locality like gravity does - what GR describes.

QM - individual mass light (electromagnetism) can change point locality - what QM probability figures out.