Linked Questions

87 votes
7 answers
14k views

Why isn't an infinite, flat, nonexpanding universe filled with a uniform matter distribution a solution to Einstein's equation?

In Newtonian gravity, an infinite volume filled with a uniform distribution of mass would be in perfect equilibrium. At every point, the gravitational forces contributed by masses in one direction ...
D. Halsey's user avatar
  • 2,233
10 votes
4 answers
8k views

Is there a limitation on Gauss' law? [duplicate]

Recently I had a question to find the electric field at a distance $R$ from the origin, where the space is filled with charge of density $\rho$. I did this by assuming a Gaussian surface of radius $R$....
avz2611's user avatar
  • 327
21 votes
4 answers
1k views

Anti-gravity in an infinite lattice of point masses

Another interesting infinite lattice problem I found while watching a physics documentary. Imagine an infinite square lattice of point masses, subject to gravity. The masses involved are all $m$ and ...
Sklivvz's user avatar
  • 13.7k
6 votes
4 answers
11k views

Infinitely charged wire and Differential form of Gauss' Law

I have tried calculating the potential of a charged wire the direct way. If lambda is the charge density of the wire, then I get $$\phi(r) = \frac{\lambda}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r} \int_{-\infty}^\infty \...
Adam Rubinson's user avatar
4 votes
5 answers
1k views

Gravitation in a space that is topologically toroidal

In my scant spare time I'm building an Asteroids game. You know - a little ship equipped with a pea shooter and a bunch of asteroids floating around everywhere waiting to be to blown up. But, I wanted ...
John Berryman's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
435 views

Infinitely many planets on a line, with Newtonian gravity

(I apologize if this question is too theoretical for this site.) This is related to the answer here, although I came up with it independently of that. $\:$ Suppose we have a unit mass planet at each ...
user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Fulvio Melia's linear cosmology

I would be interested in what people think of Fulvio Melia's argument for a linearly expanding Universe. I realize that the experimental evidence seems to be pointing to an accelerating Universe but ...
John Eastmond's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
445 views

Finite or ∞ set of masses & ∃ gravity center?

Any finite & non empty set of masses has a computable center of gravity: $\vec{OG} = \frac{\sum_i m_i \vec{OM}_i}{\sum_i m_i}$ . Does the contrapositive permits to conclude that a mass system ...
athena's user avatar
  • 723
2 votes
3 answers
494 views

Can you explain this line from "A brief history of time"?

Newton realized that, according to his theory of gravity the stars should attract each other, so it seemed they could not remain essentially motionless. Would they not all fall together at some point? ...
Oitanny's user avatar
  • 39
4 votes
1 answer
79 views

What would happen if we had a crystal structure but only gravitational interactions?

The idea is simple. Let's say we arrange similar bodies (call them planets, ions, anything) in an infinite crystal structure, but the only possible interactions are gravitational interactions. A ...
UriAceves's user avatar
  • 165
2 votes
2 answers
114 views

Question about gravity felt at various radii within a massive sphere

Imagine there's a sphere of radius $R$ which has constant density $\rho$ and you can stand anywhere inside of the sphere. Wherever you stand within the sphere, you'll only feel gravity coming from the ...
user26866's user avatar
  • 3,532
0 votes
1 answer
114 views

Would infinite material cause a black hole?

If you have an infinite amount of any material(That doesn't have a critical mass to have nuclear reactions), would this matter form massive black holes that condense into an infinite black hole? Two ...
MeesterTeem's user avatar