Who is leading the field of study in learning how gravity works and how it can be simulated?

Question

We know gravity attracts objects to other objects and we know it's related to mass (the greater the mass the greater the attraction) but we still don't know why or how.

Answer 1

The "why" is simply not important to physics. Physics is concerned with knowing how things work. The "why" is the domain of philosophy, and is, ultimately, not important. The universe works in a certain way. Whether it works that way because a divine being said so, or because of no reason at all does not affect anything. The universe still operates the same way.

Gravity can easily be simulated. Simply accelerate a vehicle at 9.81 m/s^2, and you will have generated the equivalent of Earth gravity.

Answer 2

This has been undertaking of experiments on a small scale (one guy at a time on a rotating platform like a bedframe). even though it has no longer been positioned right into an area station application. there is not any longer adequate space interior any of the modules to spin great gadgets. so some distance as shifting an entire module or 2 on great palms, there is not any longer adequate capability interior the gap station to stand up to the forces and vibrations this might reason. additionally, because of the fact the station ought to guard a definite ideas-set to the solar to maintain the photograph voltaic panels illuminated for ability, the gyroscopic action of a great rotating element or mass might make that very difficult.

Answer 3

You're right, we don't know why or how. But it does matter to physics. There's not a single leader, but there is intense activity in physics to try to reconcile gravity with QCD. Start with superstring/M-brane theories, quantum gravity, and quantum loop gravity.

Nearly all science uses computer simulations as a research tool. If you mean emulating a gravitational field, the relativistic principle of equivalence states that uniform acceleration is indistinguishable from a gravitational field. A toroidal space station rotating about its axis provides a convenient synthetic gravity.

Answer 4

Well, on a related subject, physicist Mordehai Milgrom from the Weizmann Institute in Israel (one of the leading Physics research institutes in the world) is on his way to modifying Newton's laws to help explain mysteries of dark matter. More details here: http://www.americanscientist.org/template/AssetDetail/assetid/16363;jsessionid=baa9...

Answer 5

Alcubierre is a good place to start.

Good luck.