The problem is much like the question of what causes 'unity' of body for an electron. Although electrons can assume different shapes as is well known in quantum mechanics and chemistry, the question is what holds an electron together since if any part of it is charged, that should repel the other parts. But it doesn't. And how does it maintain coherency when it is distorted by QM effects in a system.
Richard Feynman working on quantum electrodynamics explained it: "We don't know why."
The same thing applies to space itself. Apparently mass changes the value of a property of space, and when the mass goes away the property is self-restored. This implies there is a springy elasticity property of space; probably space stores the energy of any distortion (by mass) in space in a new field we do not understand at all. Or maybe the energy of the distortion is stored into the E, B, and inertial mass fields.
The one guy I think may have a handle on it is Kip Thorne.
If space gets curved, this obviously affects any energy stored in its fields (E, B, gravitational energy/inertial mass). So probably it is that energy is released after a mass moves away, that acts to straighten out space. In other words, when a mass distorts space it is like putting energy into a spring, and the mass moving away is like letting go of the end of the spring.
Now this implies we could store energy in space itself and maybe someday create a space distortion release / gravity bomb. Don't tell Raytheon.
Yeah, mass causes space to curve. But, what causes space to un-curve as mass moves away? Why doesn't space just remain curved?
The problem is much like the question of what causes 'unity' of body for an electron. Although electrons can assume different shapes as is well known in quantum mechanics and chemistry, the question is what holds an electron together since if any part of it is charged, that should repel the other parts. But it doesn't. And how does it maintain coherency when it is distorted by QM effects in a system.
Richard Feynman working on quantum electrodynamics explained it: "We don't know why."
The same thing applies to space itself. Apparently mass changes the value of a property of space, and when the mass goes away the property is self-restored. This implies there is a springy elasticity property of space; probably space stores the energy of any distortion (by mass) in space in a new field we do not understand at all. Or maybe the energy of the distortion is stored into the E, B, and inertial mass fields.
The one guy I think may have a handle on it is Kip Thorne.
If space gets curved, this obviously affects any energy stored in its fields (E, B, gravitational energy/inertial mass). So probably it is that energy is released after a mass moves away, that acts to straighten out space. In other words, when a mass distorts space it is like putting energy into a spring, and the mass moving away is like letting go of the end of the spring.
Now this implies we could store energy in space itself and maybe someday create a space distortion release / gravity bomb. Don't tell Raytheon.