Reference: Postulate Mechanics (PM)
Inertia is the innate force that establishes equilibrium between substantiality and motion of an object. Gravity is the innate force that establishes equilibrium between substantiality and motion for a system of objects. It is inertia that sets the speed of light to 3 x 108 m/s. It is gravity that sets the pattern of the rotation of the planets and the paths of their movement in the solar system.
.
Inertia and Intrinsic Motion
In classical mechanics, inertia is the tendency to resist changes in motion. This resistance comes from centeredness of an object in space. We know about “centeredness” by observing a spinning top. The heavier is the top and the faster it spins, the more centered it is at a location in space; and the more difficult it is to displace that top from its location. This is the principle on which a gyroscope works.
Similarly, an object of large inertia is more centered in space, and it is difficult to move it around. It is much easier to move around an object of small inertia. Light moves at a high velocity of 3 x 108 m/s because its inertia is extremely small. Light’s velocity is fixed and finite because its inertia is fixed and finite. On the other hand, a material object moves at much smaller velocities because the inertia of matter is extremely large.
The smaller is the inertia the greater is the intrinsic motion of a particle, or a quantum.
This intrinsic motion is observed not only in case of light but also in phenomenon called Brownian motion. The electrons in an atom are also modeled to have intrinsic motion. The intrinsic motion of larger objects on earth is not so obvious because the forces of friction and gravity are always acting on them. But we may imagine intrinsic motion for objects situated far from earth in free space.
The change in intrinsic velocity can be very precise for change in inertia. This means that the velocity of light may be different for different frequencies, but any such difference can be impossible to measure because of the overall high velocity of light. Similarly, the inertia of a material object may change with change in its velocity, but any such change can be impossible to measure because of the overall high inertia of matter.
The magnitude of inertia most likely determines the velocity of a particle, or a quantum, in space.
The most fixed object in space is likely to be the black hole at the center of a galaxy.
Newton’s laws of motion apply only to particles of matter that have high inertia. These laws do not apply to quanta of energy that have little inertia.
.
Inertia and Equilibrium
Inertia and intrinsic motion of substance are intimately related as noted above. Inertia not only resists changes in intrinsic motion, but it also maintains the intrinsic motion when no other forces are acting on a particle, or a quantum.
Newton’s laws of motion allow change of motion when external force is impressed, but they do not explicitly state what happens when that external force is removed. Hence it is assumed that the changed motion continues even after the force is removed.
Newton’s first law of motion states:
(1) Every body continues in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a right line, unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it.
This law seems to acknowledge the possibility of intrinsic motion, but it does not clearly state it.
Newton’s second law of motion states:
(2) The change of motion is proportional to the motive force impressed; and is made in the direction of the right line in which that force is impressed.
This law relates change in motion to motive force impressed, but it does not explicitly state what happens to motion when an impressed motive force is removed. It is assumed that the increased motion continues after the force is removed.
Newton’s third law of motion states:
(3) To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction: or, the mutual actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal, and directed to contrary parts.
This law relates positive action to positive reaction only. It does not relate reaction to removal of an ongoing action.
Postulate Mechanics clarifies Newton’s Laws of motion by explicitly stating that a natural state of equilibrium exists between inertia and motion.
When the motive force, currently impressed, is removed, the intrinsic motion of a particle, or a quantum, is restored.
We thus have a measure of absolute motion in terms of inertia.
.
Inertia and Gravity
Inertia keeps the intrinsic motion of a body in equilibrium with its mass. Similarly, gravity keeps the intrinsic motions of bodies in equilibrium with their masses in a system.
The Moon revolves around the Earth, the Earth revolves around the Sun. There are other moons revolving around their planets, and other planets revolving around the Sun. All these bodies in the solar system move along their paths in perfect equilibrium. Such an equilibrium is dynamic in the sense that it continually adjusts to changing conditions. This is gravity at work.
The body in the system with greatest mass shall have the greatest centeredness in space. Other bodies shall move relative to it according to their lesser masses, or centeredness. The bodies maintain their individual paths. Any deviation from the paths immediately gives rise to gravitational forces that restore the bodies back to their paths.
.
Earth’s Gravity
The objects on earth want to revolve around the earth, but their equilibrium path is less than the radius of the earth. So, they are pushed against the earth. It is actually a movement that is restrained, which gives us our weight. This is not like some force of attraction.
If a body is massive enough to have its equilibrium path just greater than the radius of the earth, then it would appear to levitate above the surface of earth.
.
Postulate Mechanics
Postulate Mechanics does not see gravity some force of attraction. Instead, it sees gravity as the natural tendency of a system to dynamically arrange itself such that there is an equilibrium among the masses and motions at all times.
Gravitational forces may arise only to restore the harmony of the system when it is disturbed.
Thus, we see the manifestation of gravity in the dynamic configurations of the galaxies, stars, planets, etc.
.
