Does the "bowling ball on a trampoline" explanation of gravity relate at all to charge distribution affecting an electric field?

Question

I was thinking about how if there are different fundamental forces in the universe that share similarities in equation F = km1m2/r^2 and F=kq1q0/r^2 , and both having the concept of gravitation and electric fields. Does that mean the "bowling ball on a trampoline" explanation of mass distribution and gravity directly analogous to charge distribution and Coulombic forces?

Jeffrey K · Answer

The bowling ball analogy represents the curvature of spacetime caused by gravity. Electric fields do not curve spacetime. The formulas look similar because they are both inverse square forces. But electric forces can be both attractive and repulsive. Gravity is always attractive.

? · Answer

The bowling ball on a trampoline is supposed to be a representation of gravity from the perspective of the spacetime curvature of general relativity. F = Gm1m2/r^2 is the Newtonian version of gravity. They are completely different theories. So, the answer is no.

Anonymous · Answer

The electric field has both attractive and repulsive components, which is not the case of the gravitational field. So therefore, they can't be explained by the trampoline model.

? · Answer

Then I raise you another question. If a gravitational field can be visualized in the same way as an electric field with the trampoline from the first question, what is the opposing analogous explanation of magnetic force from a moving charge?

L. E. Gant · Answer

inverse square laws...

Basically, the two are analogues,

Does the "bowling ball on a trampoline" explanation of gravity relate at all to charge distribution affecting an electric field?

5 Answers