There are many theories about gravity but the most prominent one is the Newtonian idea that gravity is a force of attraction between bodies. But Edwin Hubble’s discovery that our Universe is expanding seems does not fit that Newton’s version of gravity. Perhaps, one good recommendation is to temporarily put aside Newton’s version and look for other possible “bright ideas”.
There was a time in the history of mankind that people believed that the earth is the center of the Universe. Ptolemy, one of the best thinkers of that time, made complicated reasons to explain the movements of the heavenly bodies. Copernicus disagreed with him. He pointed out that one must first disregard all Ptolemy’s claims. He began by giving a new set of assumptions and analyses and came up with a simple model of the Solar System.
In this presentation, I will do the same method Copernicus did. Let us first disregard the notion that gravity is a kind of force by starting with a new set of assumptions and analyses. The initial thing to do is to find a familiar situation that will relate to gravity. Let us start with this hypothetical example:
A Journey to Infinity
Imagine a man standing inside an elevator, traveling in an accelerated velocity of 9.8 meters per second per second, in a straight path in space without any external factors that may affect his journey. The elevator is in the upward direction in respect to the man’s position, his feet touching the floor. The man thought he was still inside the building and everything was normal. He was waiting for the elevator to go up or to go down but he noticed that the elevator seems to be not moving. Unknowingly, he is in his journey of no return.
Observation:
Now, let us visualize how the elevator would speed away in space from its point of origin. The elevator starts to travel in space and gained speed fast. In the first one second of its journey, the elevator was already approaching a speed of 35.28 km per hour. It continued to increase speed every seconds of its journey. One might think that at that first one second, the elevator was already 9.8 meters away from its point of exit. Theoretically, that is wrong. The elevator started from zero speed and so, it needed time to gain speed before it approaches the speed of 35.28 km per hour. So, its actual average speed would be 17.64 km per hour. The elevator covered only a distance of 4.9 meters in that first one second of journey. Imagine, for just a winked of an eye, the elevator moved a distance of almost five meters from its former position.
The elevator is traveling in an accelerated speed, so, for the next one second of its journey, its speed would become twice. Now the elevator is approaching a speed of 70.58 km per hour (the common speed of cars in a high-way), covering an additional 9.8 meters of distance within that single lapse of one second of the journey. The elevator would then be 14.7 meters away from its point of origin and still going farther each seconds of the journey. Imagine, in just the first two ticks of a clock, it already sped away a distance of about 15 meters, how much more in a minute or an hour. What would be its speed after a year?
One might think this could be a ridiculous idea. How could a man survive such speed within a year? How about Einstein’s statement that nothing can travel more than the speed of light? Of course, in any event, there should be rules and laws to follow. This hypothetical example is just a part of a series of presentations. So, it would be unfair to make an early judgment without taking considerations of my other presentations. Another thing, I wish to emphasize that in this presentation, I assume an ideal environment which is a valid condition in Physics or any branch of Science. (Next: Three analyses that will conform to Newton’s Fundamental Laws of Motion. Pls. read “Analyzing Gravity Thru Newton’s Three Laws of Motion” by F. Mendoza Jr.)
Showing posts with label gravity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gravity. Show all posts
Initial Move: Assume A Different Meaning of Gravity (by F Mendoza Jr)
There are many theories about gravity but the most prominent one is the Newtonian idea that gravity is a force of attraction between bodies. But Edwin Hubble’s discovery that our Universe is expanding seems does not fit that Newton’s version of gravity. Perhaps, one good recommendation is to temporarily put aside Newton’s version and look for other possible "valid idea".
There was a time in the history of mankind that people believed that the earth is the center of the Universe. Ptolemy, one of the best thinkers of that time, made complicated reasons to explain the movements of the heavenly bodies. Copernicus disagreed with him. He pointed out that one must first disregard all Ptolemy’s claims. He began by giving a new set of assumptions and analyses and came up with a simple model of the Solar System.
In this presentation, I will do the same method Copernicus did. Let us first disregard the notion that gravity is a kind of force by starting with a new set of assumptions and analyses. The initial thing to do is to find a familiar situation that will relate to gravity. Let us start with this hypothetical example:
A Journey to Infinity
Imagine a man standing inside an elevator, traveling in an accelerated velocity of 9.8 meters per second per second, in a straight path in space without any external factors that may affect his journey. The elevator is in the upward direction in respect to the man’s position, his feet touching the floor. The man thought he was still inside the building and everything was normal. He was waiting for the elevator to go up or to go down but he noticed that the elevator seems to be not moving. Unknowingly, he is in his journey of no return.
Observation:
Now, let us visualize how the elevator would speed away in space from its point of origin. The elevator starts to travel in space and gained speed fast. In the first one second of its journey, the elevator was already approaching a speed of 35.28 km per hour. It continued to increase speed every seconds of its journey. One might think that at that first one second, the elevator was already 9.8 meters away from its point of exit. Theoretically, that is wrong. The elevator started from zero speed and so, it needed time to gain speed before it approaches the speed of 35.28 km per hour. So, its actual average speed would be 17.64 km per hour. The elevator covered only a distance of 4.9 meters in that first one second of journey. Imagine, for just a winked of an eye, the elevator moved a distance of almost five meters from its former position.
The elevator is traveling in an accelerated speed, so, for the next one second of its journey, its speed would become twice. Now the elevator is approaching a speed of 70.58 km per hour (the common speed of cars in a high-way), covering an additional 14.7 meters of distance within that single lapse of one second of the journey. The elevator would then be 19.6 meters away from its point of origin and still going farther each seconds of the journey. Imagine, in just the first two ticks of a clock, it already sped away a distance of about 20 meters, how much more in a minute or an hour. What would be its speed after a year?
One might think this could be a ridiculous idea. How could a man survive such speed within a year? How about Einstein’s statement that nothing can travel more than the speed of light? Of course, in any event, there should be rules and laws to follow. This hypothetical example is just a part of a series of presentations. So, it would be unfair to make an early judgment without taking considerations of the other presentations. Another thing, it is important to emphasize that in this presentation, it is assuming an ideal environment which is a valid condition in Physics or any branch of Science.
There was a time in the history of mankind that people believed that the earth is the center of the Universe. Ptolemy, one of the best thinkers of that time, made complicated reasons to explain the movements of the heavenly bodies. Copernicus disagreed with him. He pointed out that one must first disregard all Ptolemy’s claims. He began by giving a new set of assumptions and analyses and came up with a simple model of the Solar System.
In this presentation, I will do the same method Copernicus did. Let us first disregard the notion that gravity is a kind of force by starting with a new set of assumptions and analyses. The initial thing to do is to find a familiar situation that will relate to gravity. Let us start with this hypothetical example:
A Journey to Infinity
Imagine a man standing inside an elevator, traveling in an accelerated velocity of 9.8 meters per second per second, in a straight path in space without any external factors that may affect his journey. The elevator is in the upward direction in respect to the man’s position, his feet touching the floor. The man thought he was still inside the building and everything was normal. He was waiting for the elevator to go up or to go down but he noticed that the elevator seems to be not moving. Unknowingly, he is in his journey of no return.
Observation:
Now, let us visualize how the elevator would speed away in space from its point of origin. The elevator starts to travel in space and gained speed fast. In the first one second of its journey, the elevator was already approaching a speed of 35.28 km per hour. It continued to increase speed every seconds of its journey. One might think that at that first one second, the elevator was already 9.8 meters away from its point of exit. Theoretically, that is wrong. The elevator started from zero speed and so, it needed time to gain speed before it approaches the speed of 35.28 km per hour. So, its actual average speed would be 17.64 km per hour. The elevator covered only a distance of 4.9 meters in that first one second of journey. Imagine, for just a winked of an eye, the elevator moved a distance of almost five meters from its former position.
The elevator is traveling in an accelerated speed, so, for the next one second of its journey, its speed would become twice. Now the elevator is approaching a speed of 70.58 km per hour (the common speed of cars in a high-way), covering an additional 14.7 meters of distance within that single lapse of one second of the journey. The elevator would then be 19.6 meters away from its point of origin and still going farther each seconds of the journey. Imagine, in just the first two ticks of a clock, it already sped away a distance of about 20 meters, how much more in a minute or an hour. What would be its speed after a year?
One might think this could be a ridiculous idea. How could a man survive such speed within a year? How about Einstein’s statement that nothing can travel more than the speed of light? Of course, in any event, there should be rules and laws to follow. This hypothetical example is just a part of a series of presentations. So, it would be unfair to make an early judgment without taking considerations of the other presentations. Another thing, it is important to emphasize that in this presentation, it is assuming an ideal environment which is a valid condition in Physics or any branch of Science.
Gravity and Space-Time: Related to Each Other By F. Mendoza Jr.
Now that we established a new assumption and redefined gravity, the problem would be how to compromise this revelation with what we observe here on earth.
Assuming, the same man in space is now standing on the surface of the earth. If gravity is caused by the acceleration of the vehicle and the property of inertia of the rider, it follows then the ground where the man is standing could also be traveling in an accelerated speed of 9.8meters per second per second. This would imply that all points on the surface of the earth are moving away from its center.
One practical way to visualize this conditional concept is to think the Earth as a sphere. The surface of the sphere is at motion, expanding outwardly from its central point. Just to make it simpler, imagine the earth as a balloon that gets bigger each seconds of a time.
But the earth had never been observed that way. The question then would be, “How can one compromise this reality to the above statements?” There is a way and the next illustrations could prove it:
Top of the World
First Illustration:
Picture A - Draw a circle and a small figure of a man on top of it.
Picture B - Draw a bigger circle, twice the size of that circle in picture A and the same size of a man’s figure as in picture A.
Picture C – Draw a much bigger circle, twice the size of that circle in picture B and the same size of the man’s figure as in picture B.
Second Illustration:
Picture X - Draw a circle and a small figure of a man on top of it (a replica of picture A)
Picture Y - Draw a bigger circle, twice the size of that circle in picture X and a bigger figure of a man, twice the size of man’s figure in picture
Picture Z – Draw a much bigger circle, twice the size of that circle in picture Y and a much bigger figure of a man, twice the size of the man’s figure as in picture Y.
These illustrations are important tools to make a clear and simple understanding of how to relate the earth’s expansion to what we observe here on earth. The first illustration shows a set of pictures with different sizes of circles and identical sizes of a man’s figures on top of these circles. If one continue to draw pictures in this pattern, the result would be a series of pictures in which the circles look like getting bigger while the figures of a man, getting smaller. This would be the first impression one might perceive when someone told him the earth is expanding.
Now let us consider the second illustration. It shows a set of pictures with different sizes of circles together with the corresponding sizes of man’s figure on top of the circles. Again, if one draws more pictures in this pattern, the result would be a series of pictures that look like the large versions of the same original picture of a circle with a small figure of a man on top of it. This is the right approach to illustrate a compromise solution to adapt this new definition of gravity with what we observe here on earth. Therefore, one must view it this way – all things that we see around us are also expanding in proportion to the earth’s expansion.
SELF-OPINION
Hubble Telescope confirmed that galaxies are moving away from us, the most distant are almost approaching the speed of light. This confirmation shows that Newton’s law of Universal Gravitation is incorrect as well as Einstein’s statement that nothing can travel, especially large bodies, at the speed of light. This also confirmed that the Universe is indeed, expanding.
In 1922, before Edwin Hubble discovered that galaxies are moving away from us, Alexander Friedmann already made a prediction that the Universe is expanding by giving two simple assumptions. Stephen Hawking even described it by comparing the Universe to a balloon. He said the Universe is like a balloon that being steadily blown up. In its surface are painted spots that represent galaxies. As the balloon expands, the spots would appear getting farther from each other. But one thing Hawking missed to observe - in a real balloon, not only the distances between the spots increases, the spots are also stretching out and would appear bigger. This is the way the Universe expands – everything on it is also getting bigger each seconds of a time.
But why we do not see it that way? Of course, the statement is clear, everything in the Universe are getting bigger including the meter stick that we commonly use in measuring length. If one measured his height a second ago, it would be the same measure of height a second later because the meter stick he used already expanded and continuing to expand in proportion to any thing it measures. Even Einstein claimed that his space-time has the tendency to expand. But to avoid a non-static universe, he introduced an anti-gravity force called cosmological constant. Today, people accepted the fact that the Universe is expanding but could it be that this space-time continuum (as the word continuum suggests an infinite continuation) could be similar to a stretching surface of a balloon that continuing to expand together with everything on it?
In General Theory of Relativity, moving bodies along with forces acting on them affect the curvature of space-time and vice-versa, that is, space-time also has effects on how bodies move and the forces acting on them, suggesting that both space and time are interrelated. Therefore, it became irrational to discuss space and time separately. But what if the very blanket where all things are contained within the limit of the space-time continuum could also be dynamic? This presentation shows that space-time continuum could also be stretching out in the same way as similar to the surface of a balloon that being steadily blown up. The only difference is that this space-time continuum, which is four-dimensional, could be within a five-dimensional balloon. It is difficult to view Einstein’s four-dimensional space-time, how much more a dynamic kind of such space-time or a five-dimensional balloon? But one thing is clear, universal gravitation could be due to this dynamic expansion of the space-time.
But what causes the space-time to expand? Maybe, it is time to re-examine the former theories about the evolution of the Universe and from them, we can draw out a hypothesis that could relate to that question.
Assuming, the same man in space is now standing on the surface of the earth. If gravity is caused by the acceleration of the vehicle and the property of inertia of the rider, it follows then the ground where the man is standing could also be traveling in an accelerated speed of 9.8meters per second per second. This would imply that all points on the surface of the earth are moving away from its center.
One practical way to visualize this conditional concept is to think the Earth as a sphere. The surface of the sphere is at motion, expanding outwardly from its central point. Just to make it simpler, imagine the earth as a balloon that gets bigger each seconds of a time.
But the earth had never been observed that way. The question then would be, “How can one compromise this reality to the above statements?” There is a way and the next illustrations could prove it:
Top of the World
First Illustration:
Picture A - Draw a circle and a small figure of a man on top of it.
Picture B - Draw a bigger circle, twice the size of that circle in picture A and the same size of a man’s figure as in picture A.
Picture C – Draw a much bigger circle, twice the size of that circle in picture B and the same size of the man’s figure as in picture B.
Second Illustration:
Picture X - Draw a circle and a small figure of a man on top of it (a replica of picture A)
Picture Y - Draw a bigger circle, twice the size of that circle in picture X and a bigger figure of a man, twice the size of man’s figure in picture
Picture Z – Draw a much bigger circle, twice the size of that circle in picture Y and a much bigger figure of a man, twice the size of the man’s figure as in picture Y.
These illustrations are important tools to make a clear and simple understanding of how to relate the earth’s expansion to what we observe here on earth. The first illustration shows a set of pictures with different sizes of circles and identical sizes of a man’s figures on top of these circles. If one continue to draw pictures in this pattern, the result would be a series of pictures in which the circles look like getting bigger while the figures of a man, getting smaller. This would be the first impression one might perceive when someone told him the earth is expanding.
Now let us consider the second illustration. It shows a set of pictures with different sizes of circles together with the corresponding sizes of man’s figure on top of the circles. Again, if one draws more pictures in this pattern, the result would be a series of pictures that look like the large versions of the same original picture of a circle with a small figure of a man on top of it. This is the right approach to illustrate a compromise solution to adapt this new definition of gravity with what we observe here on earth. Therefore, one must view it this way – all things that we see around us are also expanding in proportion to the earth’s expansion.
SELF-OPINION
Hubble Telescope confirmed that galaxies are moving away from us, the most distant are almost approaching the speed of light. This confirmation shows that Newton’s law of Universal Gravitation is incorrect as well as Einstein’s statement that nothing can travel, especially large bodies, at the speed of light. This also confirmed that the Universe is indeed, expanding.
In 1922, before Edwin Hubble discovered that galaxies are moving away from us, Alexander Friedmann already made a prediction that the Universe is expanding by giving two simple assumptions. Stephen Hawking even described it by comparing the Universe to a balloon. He said the Universe is like a balloon that being steadily blown up. In its surface are painted spots that represent galaxies. As the balloon expands, the spots would appear getting farther from each other. But one thing Hawking missed to observe - in a real balloon, not only the distances between the spots increases, the spots are also stretching out and would appear bigger. This is the way the Universe expands – everything on it is also getting bigger each seconds of a time.
But why we do not see it that way? Of course, the statement is clear, everything in the Universe are getting bigger including the meter stick that we commonly use in measuring length. If one measured his height a second ago, it would be the same measure of height a second later because the meter stick he used already expanded and continuing to expand in proportion to any thing it measures. Even Einstein claimed that his space-time has the tendency to expand. But to avoid a non-static universe, he introduced an anti-gravity force called cosmological constant. Today, people accepted the fact that the Universe is expanding but could it be that this space-time continuum (as the word continuum suggests an infinite continuation) could be similar to a stretching surface of a balloon that continuing to expand together with everything on it?
In General Theory of Relativity, moving bodies along with forces acting on them affect the curvature of space-time and vice-versa, that is, space-time also has effects on how bodies move and the forces acting on them, suggesting that both space and time are interrelated. Therefore, it became irrational to discuss space and time separately. But what if the very blanket where all things are contained within the limit of the space-time continuum could also be dynamic? This presentation shows that space-time continuum could also be stretching out in the same way as similar to the surface of a balloon that being steadily blown up. The only difference is that this space-time continuum, which is four-dimensional, could be within a five-dimensional balloon. It is difficult to view Einstein’s four-dimensional space-time, how much more a dynamic kind of such space-time or a five-dimensional balloon? But one thing is clear, universal gravitation could be due to this dynamic expansion of the space-time.
But what causes the space-time to expand? Maybe, it is time to re-examine the former theories about the evolution of the Universe and from them, we can draw out a hypothesis that could relate to that question.
Analyzing Gravity Thru Newton’s Three Laws of Motion (By F. Mendoza Jr)
First Analysis
In Galileo’s experiment, his main concern was the motion of balls as they rolled down an inclined plane or to be more specific, the body itself in motion. This is a different approach. The main concern here is the relation between two objects, the rider and the vehicle. Let us call this “a rider to vehicle relationship” or simply R2V. In this example, the rider is the man in the elevator and the vehicle is the elevator itself. The law of Physics stated that all bodies have the property of inertia. Theoretically, in an ideal environment, the property of inertia of bodies involved would be at minimal opposition (no external factors like air resistance, friction or gravitational field of a star, etc present), we assume then that the vehicle would not need a great amount of supply of energy to make it move. But still, due to the presence of inertia, the elevator would need a transition time to adjust itself from its original state at rest to that state of motion. This could explain why at the first one second of the man’s journey, the elevator traveled only a distance of 4.9 meters.
What about the rider? The man inside the elevator is in a standing position. The motion of the elevator is in upward motion in respect to the man. Initially, the body of the man is in a state at rest. Once the elevator moves upward, the man’s body would try to oppose that change in state. The result is that the man’s feet would try to press the elevator’s floor. But eventually, due to inertia, his body would also move upward along with the elevator.
What about if energy is taken away exactly after the first one second of the journey? Theoretically, the speed of the vehicle at the moment before the energy was suspended should be at 35.28 km per hour. Both the man and the elevator are now in a state of motion. The result is that both of them would be traveling at the speed of 35.28 km per hour, forever. The man’s feet still in contact with the floor but no longer pressing the floor. Any slight movement of any part of his body would change the states of circumstance of both the rider and the vehicle and there would be a drastic change in speed and direction of path of journey.
What about if the vehicle suddenly stop? The man’s body would still be in its state of motion, so, it would still continue at that state. The result is that the man might hit the ceiling of the elevator and could cause his death.
This analysis shows the motions of the rider and the vehicle and the effect of inertia in different situations. This also proved that this hypothetical example is valid and conforms to Newton’s First Law of Motion.
Second Analysis:
This time, let us analyze the weight of the rider. Weight, according to Newton, is the force due to the pull of gravity. Assume that there is really no pull of gravity, then, could it be possible that the rider achieve the similar effect of weight on earth on a vehicle speeding away in space?
Theoretically, the initial state of circumstance of both the rider and the vehicle were the same, both in a state at rest. Once the elevator move, the man’s body follows. The elevator’s floor supports the man inside the elevator. The feet of the man is in direct contact to the floor. The man’s body due to inertia would try to keep its state of circumstance. At the moment the floor moves upward, the man’s body would not move at once. The man’s feet would press the floor until the body adjusted itself to a state of motion. If both attained the equal states of motion, there is no longer a pressing effect between the man’s feet and the floor. If the speed of the elevator is in a progressive accelerating pattern, it could sustain the pressing effect of the man’s body toward the floor. Therefore, if the accelerating speed of the vehicle is at 9.8 meters per second per second, the effect would be a sustainable pressing effect similar to Newton’s force called weight. This pressing effect would be constant regardless of how long or far the vehicle travels or how fast it travels as long as the acceleration of the vehicle is constant.
This analysis shows that it is the acceleration of a vehicle that determines the weight of the rider. This also proved that this hypothetical example is valid and conforms to Newton’s Second Law of Motion.
Third Analysis :
In this hypothetical example, the pressing effect that the man experienced inside a moving elevator in space was assumed to be the same effect he would experience if he was standing on the earth’s surface. Theoretically, it was the elevator that was in motion and not the man who was simply standing inside it, so it is valid statement to declare that the rider was not really exerting a force (or voluntarily doing it), the same way as to the vehicle’s floor. But due to acceleration (motion of the vehicle) and inertia (the property of the rider’s body), both of them seems creating two opposing forces. The man thought that the floor was stationary and his weight was the one that pressing down the floor, but to an outside observer, it appeared that it was the elevator’s floor that was pushing the man upward. The action would be the accelerating motion of the vehicle along with the accelerating upward motion of the floor that causing the opposite reaction of the man’s body, pressing down of the floor due to inertia.
This analysis shows that acceleration and inertia could be two of the factors that are vital in creating gravity and not Newton’s perception that gravity was due to the attracting forces between bodies, each bodies trying to pull each other. This also proved that this hypothetical example is valid and conforms to Newton’s Third Law of Motion.
SELF-OPINION:
Newton perceived gravity as a natural force, a nature-given property of a body to attract another body. If each body has this same property, each would try to pull one another. The forces of attraction between these bodies determine the strength of gravity. This explained why the sun and the planets in the Solar System remain in their respective orbits due to gravitational attractions - each one pulling one another. It follows then that the neighboring stars and galaxies must be doing the same thing, each one pulling each other to balance the gravitational attraction in the Universe.
But Hubble’s discovery that galaxies are moving away from each other suggests that the Universe could be expanding. Therefore, Newton’s perception that gravity is a force of attraction could be false. This hypothetical example could be one good attempt to redefine gravity – it could be due to two factors, the acceleration of the moving vehicle and the property of inertia of the rider’s body. This idea suggests that gravity could not be a natural force that always present in the Universe. It could be a consequence or an event that is happening and continue to happen due to the fact that all bodies in the Universe are at motion. This is similar to Einstein’s suggestion that gravity could be a consequence of bodies moving in geodesics in a four-dimensional curved space-time. Therefore, Einstein was correct – gravity is not a force.
Now that we established this new assumption that gravity is not a force, the problem would be how to compromise this idea with what we commonly observe? Assuming, the same man in space is now standing on the surface of the Earth. If gravity is caused by the acceleration of the vehicle and the property of inertia of the rider, it follows then that the ground where the man is standing could also be traveling in an accelerated speed of 9.8 meters per second per second. This would imply that all points on the surface of the earth are moving away from its center, meaning, the Earth is blowing up like a balloon in a tremendous rate of expansion. This therefore, would become a ridiculous idea. No, it isn’t – it has to do with the expanding behavior of the Universe along with a different approach in dealing with the four-dimensional Space-Time.
SUB-TOPIC:
Inertia is the property of a body at rest to remain at rest and the tendency of the same body at motion to remain at motion. This indicates that “inertia”, as a property of a body is a resistance, to oppose a “sudden” change in state at rest or at the state of motion . There is an emphasize to the word “sudden” because any body has the ability to change its state of circumstance, according to how fast it can adjust (rate of inertia) or how much the strength of its inertia (mass of the body). This could be a new subject to discuss, if there are bodies with a faster rate of inertia although its amount of inertia is large (massive bodies) and vice versa.
In Galileo’s experiment, his main concern was the motion of balls as they rolled down an inclined plane or to be more specific, the body itself in motion. This is a different approach. The main concern here is the relation between two objects, the rider and the vehicle. Let us call this “a rider to vehicle relationship” or simply R2V. In this example, the rider is the man in the elevator and the vehicle is the elevator itself. The law of Physics stated that all bodies have the property of inertia. Theoretically, in an ideal environment, the property of inertia of bodies involved would be at minimal opposition (no external factors like air resistance, friction or gravitational field of a star, etc present), we assume then that the vehicle would not need a great amount of supply of energy to make it move. But still, due to the presence of inertia, the elevator would need a transition time to adjust itself from its original state at rest to that state of motion. This could explain why at the first one second of the man’s journey, the elevator traveled only a distance of 4.9 meters.
What about the rider? The man inside the elevator is in a standing position. The motion of the elevator is in upward motion in respect to the man. Initially, the body of the man is in a state at rest. Once the elevator moves upward, the man’s body would try to oppose that change in state. The result is that the man’s feet would try to press the elevator’s floor. But eventually, due to inertia, his body would also move upward along with the elevator.
What about if energy is taken away exactly after the first one second of the journey? Theoretically, the speed of the vehicle at the moment before the energy was suspended should be at 35.28 km per hour. Both the man and the elevator are now in a state of motion. The result is that both of them would be traveling at the speed of 35.28 km per hour, forever. The man’s feet still in contact with the floor but no longer pressing the floor. Any slight movement of any part of his body would change the states of circumstance of both the rider and the vehicle and there would be a drastic change in speed and direction of path of journey.
What about if the vehicle suddenly stop? The man’s body would still be in its state of motion, so, it would still continue at that state. The result is that the man might hit the ceiling of the elevator and could cause his death.
This analysis shows the motions of the rider and the vehicle and the effect of inertia in different situations. This also proved that this hypothetical example is valid and conforms to Newton’s First Law of Motion.
Second Analysis:
This time, let us analyze the weight of the rider. Weight, according to Newton, is the force due to the pull of gravity. Assume that there is really no pull of gravity, then, could it be possible that the rider achieve the similar effect of weight on earth on a vehicle speeding away in space?
Theoretically, the initial state of circumstance of both the rider and the vehicle were the same, both in a state at rest. Once the elevator move, the man’s body follows. The elevator’s floor supports the man inside the elevator. The feet of the man is in direct contact to the floor. The man’s body due to inertia would try to keep its state of circumstance. At the moment the floor moves upward, the man’s body would not move at once. The man’s feet would press the floor until the body adjusted itself to a state of motion. If both attained the equal states of motion, there is no longer a pressing effect between the man’s feet and the floor. If the speed of the elevator is in a progressive accelerating pattern, it could sustain the pressing effect of the man’s body toward the floor. Therefore, if the accelerating speed of the vehicle is at 9.8 meters per second per second, the effect would be a sustainable pressing effect similar to Newton’s force called weight. This pressing effect would be constant regardless of how long or far the vehicle travels or how fast it travels as long as the acceleration of the vehicle is constant.
This analysis shows that it is the acceleration of a vehicle that determines the weight of the rider. This also proved that this hypothetical example is valid and conforms to Newton’s Second Law of Motion.
Third Analysis :
In this hypothetical example, the pressing effect that the man experienced inside a moving elevator in space was assumed to be the same effect he would experience if he was standing on the earth’s surface. Theoretically, it was the elevator that was in motion and not the man who was simply standing inside it, so it is valid statement to declare that the rider was not really exerting a force (or voluntarily doing it), the same way as to the vehicle’s floor. But due to acceleration (motion of the vehicle) and inertia (the property of the rider’s body), both of them seems creating two opposing forces. The man thought that the floor was stationary and his weight was the one that pressing down the floor, but to an outside observer, it appeared that it was the elevator’s floor that was pushing the man upward. The action would be the accelerating motion of the vehicle along with the accelerating upward motion of the floor that causing the opposite reaction of the man’s body, pressing down of the floor due to inertia.
This analysis shows that acceleration and inertia could be two of the factors that are vital in creating gravity and not Newton’s perception that gravity was due to the attracting forces between bodies, each bodies trying to pull each other. This also proved that this hypothetical example is valid and conforms to Newton’s Third Law of Motion.
SELF-OPINION:
Newton perceived gravity as a natural force, a nature-given property of a body to attract another body. If each body has this same property, each would try to pull one another. The forces of attraction between these bodies determine the strength of gravity. This explained why the sun and the planets in the Solar System remain in their respective orbits due to gravitational attractions - each one pulling one another. It follows then that the neighboring stars and galaxies must be doing the same thing, each one pulling each other to balance the gravitational attraction in the Universe.
But Hubble’s discovery that galaxies are moving away from each other suggests that the Universe could be expanding. Therefore, Newton’s perception that gravity is a force of attraction could be false. This hypothetical example could be one good attempt to redefine gravity – it could be due to two factors, the acceleration of the moving vehicle and the property of inertia of the rider’s body. This idea suggests that gravity could not be a natural force that always present in the Universe. It could be a consequence or an event that is happening and continue to happen due to the fact that all bodies in the Universe are at motion. This is similar to Einstein’s suggestion that gravity could be a consequence of bodies moving in geodesics in a four-dimensional curved space-time. Therefore, Einstein was correct – gravity is not a force.
Now that we established this new assumption that gravity is not a force, the problem would be how to compromise this idea with what we commonly observe? Assuming, the same man in space is now standing on the surface of the Earth. If gravity is caused by the acceleration of the vehicle and the property of inertia of the rider, it follows then that the ground where the man is standing could also be traveling in an accelerated speed of 9.8 meters per second per second. This would imply that all points on the surface of the earth are moving away from its center, meaning, the Earth is blowing up like a balloon in a tremendous rate of expansion. This therefore, would become a ridiculous idea. No, it isn’t – it has to do with the expanding behavior of the Universe along with a different approach in dealing with the four-dimensional Space-Time.
SUB-TOPIC:
Inertia is the property of a body at rest to remain at rest and the tendency of the same body at motion to remain at motion. This indicates that “inertia”, as a property of a body is a resistance, to oppose a “sudden” change in state at rest or at the state of motion . There is an emphasize to the word “sudden” because any body has the ability to change its state of circumstance, according to how fast it can adjust (rate of inertia) or how much the strength of its inertia (mass of the body). This could be a new subject to discuss, if there are bodies with a faster rate of inertia although its amount of inertia is large (massive bodies) and vice versa.
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