How the earth knows that there is sun far away from it and revolve round it followin the laws of gravitation?

Question

Also how a elementary particle, lets say a proton knows the existence of another proton near it so that they repel each other?

Answer 1

The earth doesnt "know" about the sun. It follows a curve made in space by the suns's gravity.

Or, more precisely, the earth and sun orbit around their center of gravity (which is extremely close to the sun). Heres an experiment:

Get a pillowcase. Get a friend to help you hold it at each corner, making it taught and parallel with the floor. The pillowcase represents spacetime. Get a golf ball or base ball. Put it on the pillowcase. This represents the sun. It should create a dip in the pillowcase. This dip is the gravitational curve made in space time by the sun. Get a marble. Gently throw it towards the ball, so it rolls with enough force to "orbit" the ball.

Youve just simulated space.

As for particles:
The model most people are familiar with is the Ruthorford model, also known as the planetary model. Although it makes understanding of atoms easier, it is not accurate. The physics involved in this model would cause the electron to spiral into the nucleus in less than a second, making matter unstable.

In fact, electrons do not have specified paths to follow, nor are they confined to a single point at any given time. Instead, there is a "field of possibility", as represented by the Wave Mechanics model.

In this model, atomic particles are particles AND waves. The physics involved in this model allow the electron to remain in orbit, unlike the Ruthorford model and also very different from gravity.

Answer 2

great question!

Newton would have said that "somehow" and instantaneously, the earth would know about the sun. And that masses, well, "just attract each other".

Einstein then came and said basically, masses deform space. So the Earth does not know anything, and continues to move on a straight line - only know because of the mass of the sun, the space is curved, and that straight line becomes a circle (ellipse, actually).

Einstein also said that gravity would propagate at the speed of light - rather than instantaneously.

But how do masses curve space exactly, and how does gravity propagate (gravity waves), we're still not quite sure. There is a hypothesis, a particle called a "gravition", and masses would exhange gravitons to let each other know they're there.


Now about the EM (electro-magnetic) force, here the vector is identified, it is a photon. Protons in your example will know each one is there because of the exchange of VIRTUAL photons. At least that's what our current best theory, quantum physics, preaches.


But of course maybe even though we can make computations using these laws, maybe we're still all wrong and the underlying Truth is quite different.

Answer 3

without boring you with long explanations and assuming you know about how gravity works....

the solar system isnt a conscious entity like you and I, (although im more semi-conscious right now)
because it has no brain, and is not capable of making decisions or spontaneously changing its state (although some argue that a creator keeps it all running, i disagree, if someone were to be smart enough to create all this, he would have invented say.... gravity to leave it on autopilot so he can rest)

anyway, the force mediated between massive bodies, is not a psychic force, it is a physical force, same with the electromagnetic repulsion between protons, it is because these objects (protons, earth, sun etc) have certain properties that cause reactions when brought in proximity with other objects of similar properties.
They do not follow the laws of gravitation or electromagnetism, the laws came after the observations.
The laws explain their interactions and the effects they cause.

Answer 4

The guidelines of east and west have been greater or much less arbitrary. we would desire to have pronounced as those 2 north and south and the polar ones east and west if we cherished. besides the undeniable fact that, the reality that the sunlight consistently rises on one area and gadgets on the different area is extremely actual and not arbitrary in any respect, that's because of the reality that the Earth is rotating in area (approximately as quickly as each and every 23 hours, fifty six minutes and four seconds), independently of its orbital action around the sunlight.

Answer 5

What are you asking? The meaning of life? It happens cause that's just the way it is. That's it. The earth and all the other planets have to go around the sun, because that's it. That's the way it works. Quit thinking too much or you might become aware of the fact that we are a solar system just floating around in the biggest ocean any one can comprehend.

Answer 6

the sun has a gravitational pull but since the Earth is spinning, it doesnt come any closer. I think

Answer 7

God tells it (theology)
A gravitational field tells it (physics)
It is a mystery not vouchsafed to us mortals (New Age)

Answer 8

They don't "know" anything.
They follow the path of least resistance.
Space "knows" where they should go
and tells them so.