Inverse Square Laws: Gravity & EMR

[EnumaElish]

How does inverse square law of gravity relate to the inverse square law of electromagnetic radiation (e.g. illumination)? How come gravity and EMR propagate identically even though they are different forces?

 

[mgb_phys]

Think of anything that spreads out from a point into a sphere, the force is spread over the surface of the sphere - and the area of the sphere depends on the radiius squared.

 

[sir-pinski]

The inverse square law is a fundamental principle in physics that describes the relationship between the intensity of a force or field and the distance from its source. This law states that the intensity of a force or field is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from its source. This principle applies to both gravity and electromagnetic radiation (EMR).

The inverse square law of gravity states that the force of gravity between two objects is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This means that as the distance between two objects increases, the force of gravity between them decreases rapidly. This law is essential in understanding the motion of planets, stars, and other celestial bodies in the universe.

Similarly, the inverse square law of electromagnetic radiation states that the intensity of EMR, such as light or radio waves, decreases as the distance from the source increases. This is why objects appear dimmer the further away they are from a light source. This law also applies to other forms of EMR, such as X-rays and gamma rays.

The reason why the inverse square law of gravity and EMR are similar is that they are both considered to be fields. Gravity is a fundamental force that acts between all objects with mass, and it is described by the theory of general relativity. On the other hand, EMR is a phenomenon that is caused by the interaction of electric and magnetic fields and is described by the theory of electromagnetism.

Despite being different forces, both gravity and EMR propagate identically because they both follow the same principle of the inverse square law. This means that the intensity of both forces decreases rapidly as the distance from the source increases. This similarity is due to the fact that both forces are fields that spread out in all directions, becoming weaker as they travel further away from their source.

In conclusion, the inverse square law is a fundamental principle that applies to both gravity and electromagnetic radiation. This law helps to explain the behavior of these forces and their relationship with distance. Despite being different forces, they both propagate identically because they are both described by fields that follow the same principle.