How Things Work: A Brief History of Reality
BOOK II: The Power of Three – "#68. Transcending the Mystery of Gravity"
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Tuesday, January 31, 2023
“Einstein’s general theory of relativity can be summed up in just 12 words: “Space-time tells matter how to move; matter tells space-time how to curve.”
– John Wheeler
PREFACE
Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity was a limited theory. Essentially, what limited it was an unexplained force called gravity. Gravity is the reason Einstein could only consider concepts related to light in terms of “moving in a straight line.” The problem was that “something” kept light, and other physical objects, in the universe from moving in a straight line. Without knowing and understanding what the force of gravity was, the Special Theory of Relativity would always remain limited. Einstein was seeking a “complete” and “unified” scientific theory that would explain “everything” about the universe.
“Without knowing and understanding what the force of gravity was, the Special Theory of Relativity would always remain limited.”
Therefore, identifying and understanding the “mechanism” behind gravity and how it worked became imperative for Einstein.
CONSIDERATION #68 – Transcending the Mystery of Gravity
The Mechanism
After successfully solving the problems related to time, space, light, and matter, Einstein decided to solve an even greater mystery, gravity. Most other scientists were not that concerned with gravity because Newton’s Universal Law of Gravity provided the solutions for the problems that they needed solved. Why fix something that isn’t broken? However, that was not enough for Einstein; he wanted to know and understand how gravity worked. How is it that two totally unconnected objects can somehow exert a pull on each other over extremely large distances without anything connecting them, only empty space? The first thing he did was consult Newton.
“The mathematical equation he developed completely explained the influence of gravity, but surprisingly could not explain how it was accomplished…”
Einstein read Newton’s Principia and studied all the results from his mathematics. However, when he reached the section where the actual mechanism behind the process would ordinarily have been explained, Newton admitted that he didn’t know. The mathematical equation he developed completely explained the influence of gravity, but surprisingly could not explain how it was accomplished:
“I have not as yet been able to deduce from phenomena the reason for these properties of gravity, and I do not feign hypotheses.”
– Isaac Newton (Principia)
Einstein would spend the next ten years of his life trying to figure out exactly what gravity was and how it worked.
Einstein noticed that when he tried to apply accelerating masses to his Special Theory of Relativity that objects with mass seemed to somehow influence the surrounding dimension of space-time in a way that resulted in a “pull” on other masses. It appeared to act as a weight on the fabric of space-time. Like a bowling ball in the middle of a trampoline, the trampoline stretches to accommodate its mass.
General relativity is physicist Albert Einstein's understanding of how gravity affects the fabric of space-time.
The theory, which Einstein published in 1915, expanded the theory of special relativity that he had published 10 years earlier. Special relativity argued that space and time are inextricably connected, but that theory didn't acknowledge the existence of gravity.
Einstein spent the decade between the two publications determining that particularly massive objects warp the fabric of space-time, a distortion that manifests as gravity, according to NASA.
Nola Taylor Redd, Meghan Bartels: Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity (Space.com – June 4, 2021)
Massive objects such as planets, stars, and black holes didn’t pull each other toward each other; in fact, there was no pulling involved at all. These objects altered the very nature of time and space; creating warped curvatures in the time-space continuum that created motion in the universe. That is why the moon revolves around the earth, and the earth revolves around the sun, and why all other motion exists in the universe. The mechanism that gravity used to bring accelerated motion into existence was to bend, or warp, space, and time.
POSTSCRIPT
The genius of Einstein is that he was able to get past the limitation that gravity appeared to be some kind of “pulling” force between physical objects. In fact, gravity was not directly “connected” to objects at all; objects were not directly “connected” to gravity in any way. However, they were affected by gravity. So, what was really happening?
“Gravity was the third constituent in a trinity of reality…”
Einstein determined that gravity did not directly affect objects; gravity directly affected “space-time,” which affected objects. Gravity was the third constituent in a trinity of reality called the Universe.
Next week Einstein solves the mystery of gravity…
Expand the Conversation by Upgrading to “Reality by a Thread!”
Excerpt from Tomorrow’s Untangling the Knots of Reality – Podcast #34: "Untangling Immanuel Kant"
This Week on “The Thread”:
•Untangling the Knots of Reality Podcast: #34 "Untangling Immanuel Kant" (“Based on three considerations related to questions concerning knowledge, action, and reasonable possibility, Immanuel Kant fundamentally alters the way Western Civilization comes to understand and interact with science, religion, and philosophy. Kant’s influence on the modern world cannot be underestimated. In his work, “The Critique of Pure Reason,” Kant meticulously explores the potential of pure reason for solving all metaphysical problems outside the realm of the senses. The results of his conclusions revolutionized not only the Western world, but the entire world.…” )
•Reality by a Thread Discussion Thread: Previewing Book V – The Imbalance Between Rationalism & Empiricism in Modern Science (“It means that ideas and concepts are timeless, or eternal. However, actuality, or “Becoming” is directly related to time. Therefore, the idea, or possible potential for human flight, was always “true” from a rational perspective; but it could not be implemented into the empirical world until the appropriate “time.” When Rationalism and Empiricism are closely balanced the “timing” involved in implementing rational ideas into the empirical world is recognized as a critical factor in “how” and “when,” those ideas and concepts “are” implemented into the empirical world. ....”)
•FREE PDF Download of Book IV: “The Cosmic Symphony – Overtones of String Theory” plus other Free Books, Discounts and Benefits.
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Book IV “The Cosmic Symphony – Overtones of String Theory” is Now Available!
The Essential Physics & Metaphysics of Sound, Music, and String Theory
Pythagoras’ discovery that music was a mathematical expression of reality would forever change the world of music, philosophy, science and religion. Pythagoras called this Cosmic Symphony of Mathematical Abstract Perfection “The Music of the Spheres.”
• What is the "Music of the Spheres?"
• How did the Music of the Spheres Evolve into String Theory?
• How did Pythagoras Change our Perception of Reality?
• What did Pythagoras Discover About the Science of Sound and Music?
• What are the Mathematical Metaphysics Behind the Structure of Western Music?
• What is the "Mozart Effect" and is it Real?
• What is the Numerical Mysticism underlying the Mathematical Relationships of Sound, Astrology & Music?
• What is String Theory and What does it Mean? Is Everything Really Composed of Extremely Small Vibrating Strings of Energy?
• Is Reality Ultimately a Cosmic Symphony Eternally Resonating the "Mind of God?"
BOOK IV in the “HOW THINGS WORK” Series (197 pages)
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