Can someone explain how gravity actually works?

Question

I know the formula of Newton's theory (and the basic principles of Einstein's more recent theory of relativity), but can someone help me to get my head around the main premise of what actually causes this force we call gravity? I am having a hard time conceptualizing it and understanding why it occurs...

Answer 1

My research into fundamental physics unfolded certain facts even on gravity hitherto unknown to scientists:
(1) Both radiation and matter consist of electric, magnetic, and gravitational fields. (2) These three fields bind core electron to proton at a distance and allow rotation in a fixed orbit. (3) In neutron, these three fields bind electron to proton allowing them to maintain their individual identities, in contrast to current wisdom on neutron as a particle. (4) Most importantly, fission takes place in Sun, what appears as solar flares, probably due to presence of Uranium-235. Along with fission products, electric, magnetic, and gravitational fields reach Earth, more so at North and South poles. These four forces bind each planet at a distance, and rotate each planet in a fixed orbit. (5) Sun's fission is the source of cosmic rays. (6) Since these four fields reach Earth's poles in higher intensity, cosmic ray intensity is reported to have detected high, causing increased levels of radiation dose to airline passengers near the North pole. These four fields also cause bending light near Earth's surface.

M.A.Padmanabha Rao Ph.D (AIIMS)
Professor of Medical Physics,
Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences, Jolly Grant (2001)
Head, Radiation Safety Group& Deputy Director,
Defence Laboratory (DRDO), Jodhpur, Rajasthan (1983-97)
Lecturer in Medical Physics, Department of Nuclear Medicine,
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 1964-1983).
[e-mail]; Delhi Ph: 91-11-28534251

Answer 2

I was wondering when this question would come up. Of your answers so far Annon gets you started in the right direction.

Gravity was much harder to figure out than light.
But as usual Gravity turned out to be simple and surprising by not being universal.

2006 01 18 0710 USA AZQ MAH
Why there is gravity?
I have been trying to think of a reason for the existence of gravity within the theory of light as small and numerous particles.

Could gravity be as simple as a Venturi effect of movement into a void created by the passage of another particle?

2007 03 30 0655 JTK MAH The limits of Gravity.
Gravity was the hardest concept to get a grip on. Understanding gravity has come to me in three steps so far, the first the existence of gravity was for me assumed, having been defined by Newton and taught in school, and by Wile E. Coyote on TV. The second step was to find out why there is Gravity and the third step was the realization that Gravity is not universal in all mater.

Since the existence of gravity is well documented and is an assumed by most people I will let that dog lie.

Lets go pick on the "why" there is what we call gravity, and the limits of the gravitational effects.
There are other effects that are similar to gravity the most famous being magnetism. For a long time many people thought they might be the same except that magnetism is bipolar and gravity seems to be mono polar.

Gravity is caused by the combined effect of the flow of great numbers of particles toward material that is decompressing. As material decompresses and moves apart on the sub atomic scale there is more room for light and similar sized particles to circulate. It is the current of small particles literally flowing toward and into the decompressing areas. Add in the better known forces of electron proton attraction. and you have what we recognize as the combined effect we call gravity.

The physical limits on Gravity are locations. Locations where material is so dense that there is little room for the smaller less dense particles to move. and the other end where all the material has decompressed to such an extent that no decompression is going on.

Locations where the density is to high for gravity is at the deeper regions of galactic core sized objects and larger.
Places where total decompression might exist would most likely be in the spaces between the galaxies. And the size of particles with little or no gravity would be sub atomic and might be smaller than light particles.

By decompressing I mean decompressing fom the densities of the Local /Big Bang to now.

Answer 3

Since you're familiar with Einstein's relativity you can consider the possibility that gravity is sort of an opposite reaction to the expansion of the universe. Enter "How does the expansion of the universe affect gravity?" in the search for questions feature. "Thoughtful" has a great answer there.
If you have any theories about this please try to develop them. This is an important question.

Answer 4

I will keep the concepts simple and unintellectual for everyone to enjoy.

in order to conceptualize gravity you have to see it as a word for the result of all energetic motion in the universe. The result is not an easy thing to separate from all forces strong and weak. Gravity is not a thing to observe separate from any force so the need for analogies is useful.

Over a long enough time line the amount of energy between (any) two objects is less then the total energy out side them. The example is taking any two high density masses like two earths and and place them forty thousand miles apart. Their density defines their rate of absorption of energetic motion and therefore the space directly between them has a deficit in comparison the the universe of space outside the two earths. The deficit is the lower energetic state of effect on the two masses and the higher energetic state is the total possible activity outside the masses. Like two closely spaced sponges in a flat puddle of water the sponges will absorb the water between them faster then they can absorb the total water outside them. if the water is gone between them the pressure of the remaining water out side forces them together. Simple as that.

Answer 5

you and most scientists. the mechanism of gravity is not well understood. the phenomenon is well described by general relativity, basically it says that mass/energy warps space and objects move in warped space so that it looks like they are experiencing a force. but the mechanism is missing (why does mass warp space). it's thought that a quantum mechanical theory of gravity will answer these questions, but it turns out that it's quite tricky to come up with a theory of quantum gravity that actually works out mathematically. perhaps the lesser problem of understanding the mechanism of mass (the higgs mechanism?) will give some clues.

Answer 6

This is the generally accepted theory (Put in the simplest of terms.) Imagine space as a fabric, when an object (matter) is in existence it bends this fabric much like a marble would do if set on a flatly stretched piece of cloth. What happens when you set a smaller marble near the bigger one?, it rolls into the indention created by the largest of the two marbles. This represents the pull of gravity. The more matter there is the greater the indention is on space ( Or cloth) and the stronger the pull of gravity. Simple, right?

I love science.

Answer 7

Newton had a little "on/off" switch under his desk.... There are theories about a basic gravity force and gravitons, but it is still up in the air.

Answer 8

The same way as if you had your neck tie stuck in a old fashion ringer washer.

P.S. Do not try this while wearing a neck tie.

The End.

Answer 9

If you know something about the 4 basic forces which exist between 2 particles.. it would make you think more.. i think its become a case where there are particles (invisible) called gravitons (like electrons, protons and neutrons) which have the attracting cababilities

Answer 10

when you find the answer the scientific community of the world would like to know...