If Einstein relativty explains gravity as a curature of space then why not magnetism in the same way?

Answer 1

Actually physicists do believe that magnetism and gravity are related.

Answer 2

Entirely different characteristics. Magnetic fields are easily detected, will attract or repel, can be shielded to negate the field and can be easily turned on and off with electricity. Unfortunately, none of these traits are common to gravity.

In addition, magnetic fields are far, far stronger than the gravitational field - for example, that small magnet attached to your refrigerator easily overcomes the gravitational pull of the entire earth!

We know a lot about the traits and characteristics of a magnetic field, but we know very little about the field itself.

Perhaps it will reveal itself in the future when a unification theory is introduced - and verified.

Answer 3

The general theory of relativity which "explains" gravity is based on the equivalence principle. This principle states that the effects of gravity and of an accelerated frame of reference are equivalent for all local phenomena.
No such principal exists for magnetic phenomena and magnetic effects cannot be explained by a curvature of space..

Answer 4

You can.

In trying to unify the electroweak force and the strong force there is this idea of gauge theory. When we consider the electric field we can add a constant potential field to all points in space and this will not change the result. This constant field is a gauge field. However if we do the same with the magnetic force we will change the results.
As it turns out mathematically this potential field that we add has the exact same effect as if we were to curve space. So in relativity we like to think in terms of curved space and in quantum mechanics we like to think in term of gauges.

Answer 5

First, as someone mentioned before me, electromagnetism does not apply to all objects with mass or energy. But something similar to general relativity for matter happens for electrical charges in Classical Field theory or more advanced and complex in Quantum Field theory. For classical field theory,I suggest you to study this book:

Course of theoritical Physics Volume 2:
The classical theory of fields
by L.D. Landau & E.M. Lifschitz

Translated by Morton Hamermesh (University of Minnesota)

Answer 6

Because magnetism does not apply to all objects the way gravity does.

Answer 7

One way of viewing electromagnetism is a a 'connection' on a small circular dimension. When done quantum mechanically, this is called a 'guage theory' and is exactly how modern theories describe E+M.