First, I apologize to A. R. Marlow and the list for my last few posts. They
have been too cynical. I would like to be enlightened to GR, so will discuss
my conclusions and ask for feedback.
First, I'll assume that whatever Newtonian mechanics tells me concerning the
motion of a mass, GR will tell me the same thing at least within the scope
where Newtonian mechanics gives good results.
If I drop a ball, then I see it is accelerating with respect to my frame of
reference. To analyze this using Newtonian mechanics, I would say there is a
force acting down on the mass and describe this force as the weight. I'd
write (I'll assign up as my positive direction):
Fnet = ma
-W = ma
-mg = ma
a = -g
I would therefore conclude that the weight being the only force, the
acceleration would be g downward.
Now, Marlow states that W is a fictitious force, so I don't want to include it
on the Fnet side of the equation (where the real forces belong). Therefore, I
move it to the right side (as a frame of reference acceleration) and write:
Fnet = m(a+g)
0 = m(a+g)
a = -g
This says that when no force is acting on the mass, then it will have an
acceleration of g with respect to my frame of reference, the same result as
Newtonian mechanics.
Now, I stand on the floor and feel a force acting up on me. In Newtonian
mechanics I write:
N - W = ma
N - W = 0
N = W
N = mg
In GR I write:
N = m(a+g)
a = 0
N = mg
Now, I stand in an elevator that is accelerating. In Newtonian mechanics I
write: