What is a gravitational field?
Q: What is a gravitational field?
A: A gravitational field is a model used to explain the influence that a massive body has on other objects in its vicinity. It produces a force on another massive body and is measured in newtons per kilogram (N/kg).
Q: Who first proposed the idea of gravity as a point attraction?
A: Newton was the first to propose the idea of gravity as a point attraction.
Q: How did Einstein's general theory of relativity revolutionize our understanding of gravity?
A: Einstein's general theory of relativity revolutionized our understanding of gravity by proposing that rather than two particles attracting each other, mass distorts spacetime which is perceived and measured as a "force". This shifted our view from two particles attracting each other to matter moving in certain ways in response to the curvature of spacetime.
Q: Is there such thing as gravitational force?
A: Some scientists believe that there is no gravitational force, or that it is merely fictitious.
Q: What are gravitational waves?
A: Gravitational waves are physical interpretations of Einstein's equations of general relativity and are believed to be caused by distortions in spacetime due to mass.
Q: What does Laplace attempted to model gravity as?
A: Laplace attempted to model gravity as some kind of radiation field or fluid following Newton's original concept.
Q: How does matter move according to this model ?
A: Matter moves in certain ways in response to the curvature of spacetime according this model.
