New Mars Forums

Alexander Sheppard

Member

Registered: 2001-09-23

Posts: 178

Re: Gravito-magnetism - Strange force revolutionizes physics

Ok, that was a late April fools joke. Now, actually, there is something called gravito-magnetism that is predicted by general relativity. It is the effect produced by a moving mass, in much the same way as a moving electric field produces a magnetic field. So, a moving gravitational field will produce this gravito-magnetic field. But the field is so tiny that it is not possible to observe at present. Actually, it is just another manifestation of gravity, not really a new force of nature. So it isn't a "fifth force". Otherwise, we'd already have five forces: magnetism and electricity would be different!

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: Gravito-magnetism - Strange force revolutionizes physics

It's not even April anymore.

Good to see you around Alexander...

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Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
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The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

Tom Jolly

Banned

Registered: 2002-05-05

Posts: 40

Re: Gravito-magnetism - Strange force revolutionizes physics

Gravity Probe-B is supposed to launch this year to test the gravito-magnetic effect. I work with Lockheed on the Payload Transportation System, so we get to haul GPB around from building to building for various tests. Pretty small satellite, but the technology on that thing is just awesome. I think they also call the gravito-magnetic effect the "Lense-Thirring frame-dragging effect", but I might be confusing two different GR predictions.
Tom

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: Gravito-magnetism - Strange force revolutionizes physics

Hey, have any more info about that, Tom? Can't seem to find much.

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Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
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The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

Tom Jolly

Banned

Registered: 2002-05-05

Posts: 40

Re: Gravito-magnetism - Strange force revolutionizes physics

Sure, go here. It's Stanford's site. They've done all the design stuff on GPB.
Gravity Probe-B

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: Gravito-magnetism - Strange force revolutionizes physics

Thanks.

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Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
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The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.