Studying Math

[tara_li]

I really really need to get past my hang-ups in calculus, so I can start to understand Special and General Relativity better.  I keep getting hung up on this one "thought experiment" that is supposed to illustrate the equivalence of "Inertial Mass" and "Gravitational Mass".  Because, except at the very limit...  it doesn't show that at all

Comments

[shockwave77598]

Well, what we percieve as gravity is merely an acceleration. On the planet, it's caused by the mass of the planet deforming spacetime a little bit. On a spacecraft, it's caused by accelerating the vehicle around you. The mass of the vehicle has almost no effect on its acceleration (assuming magic no-fuel engines) and mass is entirely the cause of gravity on the planet.

[tara_li]

The problem is - gravity acts as a point source, where thrust doesn't. This is why the two-pendulum experiment reveals a difference. And this is where I have the problem.