If we accept the fact that there is no such thing as the force of gravity and that what we are experiencing is actually curved space-time caused by the presence of mass, then can someone explain what is meant by the expression “Gravitational collapse is the inward fall of a body due to the influence of its own gravity” when applied to the collapse of star at the end of its life. Surely curved space-time and hence gravity is the consequence of the presence of mass, not an active force actually causing mass to collapse. When giving your answer please do not use the phrase “force of gravity” but explain gravitational collapse in terms of curved space-time only.
“Gravitational collapse is the inward fall of a body due to the influence of its own distortion of space-time”. Sorted.
Clever but not clever enough. Curved space-time is the result of presence of mass, it doesn't cause anything.
I suppose I will just have to humour you until somebody bothers to try and answer the question. "what we are experiencing is actually curved space-time caused by the presence of mass" As I said, curved space-time is the result not the cause.
You're being incoherent. Mass curves space-time. We experience this curvature as gravity. This curvature (called "gravity") also causes other mass to accelerate toward the centre of the distortion. Mass "falls in" to the ""dip". The more mass in the "dip" the greater the curvature, and the more it can cause to "fall in". Are you getting it now?
At last you're trying to answer my question. I know all the facts you state. Consider a star of given mass. This causes space to curve a measureable amount. This curvature (called gravity) is not a force it's an effect so it can't cause the star to collapse, this would need gravity to be a force. The star collapses because it burns out and its mass reduces. This would reduce the curvature (called gravity). I am simply saying that a star doesn't collapase under its own gravity because there is no force of gravity to cause the collapse. What is the name of the force that is pushing in on the star to make it collapse. And don't say curved space because that would imply curved space imparting a force which takes us back where we started.
If space is curved and matter (and everything else) is in space then of course matter follows the curvature. This is what we call gravity. Yes, but depending on the size it finishes at then the local curvature may exceed "normal" limits - causing a "black hole". Nothing pushes on the star. It's "trying" to collapse all the time but is "held up" by internal pressures.
Nothing pushes on the star. It's "trying" to collapse all the time but is "held up" by internal pressures. This is a very significant statement which helps
