Where does the energy that powers gravity originate?

Question

Gravity does work. It holds the moon in orbit and this requires energy to produce the work.

Answer 1

When you figure that out, write a paper and become a quadzillionaire.

Answer 2

Gravity is not powered by energy. It does not do work. Energy is not required to hold the moon in orbit.

Thermodynamic theory and careful measurements show us that energy is not consumed in the maintenance of a gravitational field. However, we do not yet know what actually causes gravity. We know it is a property of mass. We can also describe it as a distortion or warping of spacetime in the presence of mass. But we don't know why it happens.

Answer 3

Energy that powers gravity arises from mass. The mass has a gravitational pull that curves space time and causes the moon to hold it's orbit.

Answer 4

i am not a physicist so my explanations are based on my memory of all the physics i did in college which was a while ago.

anyway, according to einstein's general relativity, gravity is a bend in space-time. imagine a giant rubber sheet (2 dimensional). if you were to place a large bowling ball in the middle it would warp the sheet down somewhat. if you were then to roll a tennis ball by the bowling ball it would be pulled in. if you could manage to give the tennis ball enough velocity then it would keep going in a circle around the bowling ball (taking friction out of the picture). if you can take this analogy to space-time (4 dimensional) and think of gravity as a gigantic bend, you will see how gravity works in the universe, and why all matter (mass) has gravity because it causes a bend in space-time.

moving to a subatomic level, particle physicists believe that gravity is also transmitted by particles called gravitons. just as, the electromagnetic force is carried by photons, and the weak force is carried by the W+, W-, and Z bosons, and the strong nuclear force is carried by gluons... gravity gets gravitons, though i don't think anyone has actually expiramentally observed one. although the W and Z bosons have mass, the gravitons, like photons and gluons, do not have mass. i think new models of quantum physics require there to be gravitons. that's all i know,

hope this helps you out.

Answer 5

Think of gravity as a spring. When you pull a spring, energy is stored, which is used to bring things back together again. Net energy production is zero.

For the naysayers about this, go read about stress-energy tensors in general relativity.

Answer 6

Mass keeps the moon in place not energy. Anything that has mass has a gravitational pull. The bigger the mass the more the pull.