Re: A continued question about GR (mainly for Greg Hansen)

lugit...@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

Hello.

I am an applied math major with a (nonprofessional) interest in
physics. A few days ago, I posted a question in this group concerning
the force on a scenario in which there are only two objects in the
entire universe and the force on them.between them. Unforunately, my
original thread became diverted with a debate about the validity of
general relativity itself.

No it didn't... at least, excluding the people whom you should, just
using native intelligence, you should be able to quickly indentify as
contentious kooks. If you want to learn anything from this medium, you
will have to develop that recognition skill quickly.

Perhaps you've already ID'd me. ;-)

The short answer is, your question needs some operationalization.
"Force" is actually not too hard -- you could constrain a body to move
on a given trajectory, and ask what the stress is on the say (pick your
Rube Goldberg Gedanken device here) laser reflector receiving the
necessary impulse to keep it on your artifical trajectory. That looks
like force to me.

"Trajectory" is much more problematical, and its not obvious a priori
that your description can be made to mean anything -- relying on
supposed coordinates which bear no known relation to the unknown
spacetime geometry of an unknown solution. It was suggested that an
initial velocity problem would be feasible, but on further reflection
it seems likely that your description could be made to mean something.

Not, of course, that you have the remotest idea what I'm talking about.
Obviously, what cannot be understood, must be devoid of meaning.
Thanks for posting the stimulating question, anyway.

.