In General Relativity there is no such thing as a gravitational field. It is a completely geometric theory based on the speed of light being constant.

It is space that bends and distorts due to the presence of mass in that theory.

It follows, though I cannot get Bruce to believe it, that the event horizon of a black hole is where space is being sucked into the hole at the speed of light in the distant reference frame. That is why light cannot escape from it. That is why Smolin thinks that new universes come from black holes. It even says that, more or less, in the Sri Bagavatum, 'new universes are streaming out of Vishnu's nose'. So Hinduism got it right- maybe even the age of the universe- being infinite.

Anyway, the light at the event horizon is still going at a constant speed, but space is traveling inward at the same speed. It's all geometry.

Now if only I could figure out how to get a 6,000 year old universe from geometry alone, I could make a mint from the YECers.

Regards,

Richard

• Substantivist vs. Relationist interpretation - harvey1 - June 3, 2002 - 17:23 UTC
  • Ain't got $78 - yanniru - June 4, 2002 - 15:04 UTC
    • As I understand it - harvey1 - June 4, 2002 - 16:11 UTC
      • Different undertandings - yanniru - June 5, 2002 - 14:34 UTC