somewhat partially continued from last post
I was thinking...
The more I think about the revolution in physics in terms of general relativity, the more I like the idea of changing the focus of quantum mechanics (see last post[s]). For example, we all remember the basic Newtonian formula for "gravity": F=g*m*m/d^2. Translation: the force of gravity equals the product of the masses divided by the square of the distance between the two objects (multiplied by "g" to get the units right). Einstein gave us a new equation, which, as we know from the appendicies to "Relativity" correct the apparent error in the perhelion of Mercury. This is the so-called "Einstein's field equation": Gmv=8'pi'Tmv. The interesting difference is that there are not two objects here to discuss "gravitation". All is with reference to one body. Gravitation is rather the mass of one body "warping" the space time continuum around the body, as opposed to the mutual attraction of two bodies. Again, we can examine the Geodesic discussion and the lead ball on the cushion of a previous post. . .
So I think that this leads us to re-define our notion of space and time further than just simply saying: "space time continuum". It is easy for us to say, "if there were no massive bodies, then space would be Euclidean and flat." But there is a deep seated error hidden in that statement. I say: "without massive bodies there would be no space". Space and time are not independant of one another, but, more strongly, they are not independent of bodies either. Augustine was right when he says that God created time when God created stuff. I think we could also hypothesize that the gravitational field surrounding bodies is really just the extension of space time around them caused by being the sort of things they are: massive bodies. So I think it is an error to say that gravity causes time and space to "bend" or "curve" or "dialate". We should rather think of all material bodies as not bounded by their surface, but rather as continually creating the world around them by their very material existence. This is why in a static spherical single body setup it is possible to work out Einstein's field equation to a solution that gives a particular distance for a particular mass to determine the "infinite" warpage of time and space. Of course, spining, non-spherical bodies provide so much of a mathematical puzzle that they use "super-computers" to attempt to figure out the solutions. I digress...
In a perpetual effort for brevity, I will try to wrap up. Physicists have measured the mass and relative distances of various sub-atomic particles in relation to one another. I still think that it would be possible to take a proton, given the mass, and derive the Schwarzchild equation for it. If anyone would like to try, since I have been a little busy lately, look up the mass of a proton, and plug it into the following equation:
ds^2 = c^2(1-2MG/c^2r)dt^2
- dr^2/(1-2MG/c^2r)
-r^2(d'theta'^2+sin^2'theta'd'phi'^2)
[I really wish that blogger had a fucking font where I could type mathematical statements, or even fucking Greek letters - ed.]
