Category:
Research Papers
Date Published:
June 28, 2024
Keywords:
gravity, Newtonian physics, general relativity, push gravity, quantum gravity, modified Newtonian dynamics, Fatio/Le Sage gravity, gravity waves.
Abstract:
Due to the fact that a plethora of gravity concepts have been introduced over the years, as far back as Aristotle, the content of this essay has been limited to what I consider the most dominant ones. These concepts have been attempts to establish an understanding of gravity, yet to be achieved fully. Philosophers as far back as Plato and Aristotle have contributed their own thoughts on the subject. For example, Aristotle claimed that all objects fall to their own natural place under the influences of earth, air, fire, and water. He went on to state that the rate at which an object falls is proportional to its mass. Many centuries later, Galileo disputed this last statement with observations and associated empirical evidence. Still later, Newton showed, through his laws of motion, that Galileo’s claim is correct. Since a theory is considered to be a widely accepted hypothesis, based upon much empirical evidence, not all “theories” of gravity are not, in fact, theories. So, the reader must be mindful that I am making an informal usage of the term, “theory”. Hopefully this paper will be helpful in clarifying some key theoretical issues and tie the various concepts into a cohesive understanding of gravity as we know it today.
<<< Back