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mee
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? gravity and refraction
I don't know if this is silly, but does gravity refract us towards the earth?
I don't know if this is silly, but does gravity refract us towards the earth?
Does Gravity Cause Refraction Similar to Light?
- Thread starter mee
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- Gravity Refraction
In summary, the conversation is discussing the relationship between gravity and refraction, specifically in terms of how gravity may bend our path through space and if it could be considered a form of refraction. The concept of refraction is explained as the bending of light as it travels through different media, while gravity is described as the curvature of the vacuum by the theory of general relativity. The key difference between the two is that light follows a constant path in gravity, while its speed changes in refraction.
- #2
Scott Sieger
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maybe this is equally silly but please explain your definition of refraction?
- #3
mee
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Scott Sieger said:
If I knew I would be much wiser!
It seems our path through space is "bent" back towards the Earth due to gravity. I was wondering if it could be some sort of refraction.
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- #4
Antonio Lao
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Refraction of light is possible thru its travel between different media such as glass and air, air and water, outer space and the atmosphere, etc.
The vacuum ("empty space") is the ultimate medium. And curving of this vacuum by gravity is possible by the theory of general relativity. Light is just following the shortest path (geodesic) along the curvature of this vacuum. it is not passing thru different media like refraction. Light is just moving along path of space that uses the least amount of energy. The speed of light is constant at every point of the path while in refraction the speed of light changes from medium to medium as indicated by Snell's law.
The vacuum ("empty space") is the ultimate medium. And curving of this vacuum by gravity is possible by the theory of general relativity. Light is just following the shortest path (geodesic) along the curvature of this vacuum. it is not passing thru different media like refraction. Light is just moving along path of space that uses the least amount of energy. The speed of light is constant at every point of the path while in refraction the speed of light changes from medium to medium as indicated by Snell's law.
What is gravity?
Gravity is a natural phenomenon by which all physical bodies with mass are brought towards one another. It is the force that keeps planets in orbit around the sun and causes objects to fall towards the ground.
How does gravity affect objects?
Gravity affects objects by pulling them towards the center of the Earth. The strength of the gravitational force depends on the mass of the two objects and the distance between them.
What is refraction?
Refraction is the change in direction of a wave as it passes from one medium to another. This change in direction is caused by a change in the wave's speed.
How does refraction work?
Refraction occurs when a wave enters a new medium at an angle. The change in speed causes the wave to bend, which is why objects can appear distorted when viewed through different mediums, such as water or glass.
Why is refraction important?
Refraction is important because it allows us to see objects that are not directly in our line of sight. It is also essential in many scientific fields, such as optics, meteorology, and oceanography. Understanding refraction helps us understand how light and other waves behave in different environments.