Friday 18 September 2020

general relativity - Visualizing gravity


When you see graphics trying to help people visualize what gravity in Einstein's relativity "looks" like it will often be a mostly two-dimensional plane with a concave warp where a massive object is sitting as if gravity were a piece of stretchy fabric (I'm sure you know what I'm talking about). We know for a fact that gravity is not like this and I'd like to know what gravity would actually "look" like. It is of course possible that gravity transverses higher dimensions in which case I'd like information on that too.



Answer



I've included a couple of pictures that are a three-dimensional warping of spacetime. Obviously, these are artist's and mathematician's depictions, but perhaps they'll give you a better idea.


Image 1


This image shows a ball (representing a massive object) warping spacetime around it. In your question, you mentioned seeing a massive object warping a two dimensional plane. This image is supposed to show a massive object warping 3 dimensions, and it does that by showing a 3-d grid to represent spacetime, and the planet pulling the cube in around it.


3-d grid warped


Image 2


This is supposed to be showing the gravity of two astronomical bodies interacting. Admittedly, this seems to be the most fanciful looking image, but it is a very interesting way to show it happening. The yellow/white lines that are emanating out from each object show that object's affect on spacetime.


warping of spacetime



Image 3


This image shows the Earth warping spacetime like in the first image. It's a little clearer from a side view. Earth is distorting the miniature cubes within the grid.


warping of spacetime around earth


Hope this helps!


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