I once asked a similar question and got a very good mathematical answer, but I'm trying to find one that doesn't involve equations for a lay person. I have been reading how Einstein had to develop the math to describe curvature before he could put forth his field equations. It seems to me that homogeneous, isotropic curvature can be expressed as the surface area of a 4 dimensional sphere with a certain radius of curvature. From this I am thinking that a change in this curvature caused by mass-energy produces an inverse square law. It is easy to see how geometry gives an inverse square law in Newton's law of gravity. Is this a correct way of thinking?
$\begingroup$
$\endgroup$
3
-
1$\begingroup$ could you link to the similar question you mention? $\endgroup$– James KSep 18 at 18:16
-
$\begingroup$ I once asked if Einstein developed the field equations knowing that they had to approximate to Newton or if it can be shown independently that this happens. I was inactive for a while, so my question must have fallen out of the system. To me, it is not obvious that matter has to curve space in such a way to produce an inverse square law, even though this is obviously what happens. $\endgroup$– Jack R. WoodsSep 24 at 13:16
-
$\begingroup$ I couldn't find it in physics stack exchange questions either. It's too bad, because I was given a good answer even though I didn't fully understand the math. It still seems coincidental that general relativity provides an answer that matches what would happen if gravity was a force carried by gravitons similar to the electrical force and photons. $\endgroup$– Jack R. WoodsSep 24 at 13:36
Add a comment
|