General relativity ?

[1123581321]

I was wondering, if gravity in general relativity is the result of the curvature of space/time. Then how can the effect at the earth surface for which we all feel be accounted for, since space/time is being warped due to our presence on the earths surface is it...

Because isn't general relativity only describing the topology of space external to the earth - as in the universe at large..

[ajb]

I was wondering, if gravity in general relativity is the result of the curvature of space/time. Then how can the effect at the earth surface for which we all feel be accounted for, since space/time is being warped due to our presence on the earths surface is it...

Because isn't general relativity only describing the topology of space external to the earth - as in the universe at large..

 

The gravitational field surrounding the Earth is approximately the Schwarzschild metric. This solution is a vacuum solution and does not describe the interior of the Earth.

 

General relativity says practically nothing about topology, it is a local description of curvature.

[D H]

General relativity says practically nothing about topology, it is a local description of curvature.

Sure it does. Mean sea level is a constant time dilation surface.

 

 

 

[lemur]

I don't see why a geodesic path through spacetime has to be located at a minimum distance from a planet/moon/star/etc. Granted, an object traveling at orbital speed at a terrestrial altitude just high enough not to bump into mountains would quickly lose speed from air-resistance or burn up from the friction. But if a satellite was accelerated to orbital speed 10m above the surface of the moon or some other gravity-well without atmosphere, wouldn't the orbit constitute a geodesic path?