Gravity would cause two objects in a vacuum to move toward each other. I understand that gravity is a force that exists as a product of energy's original conversion into mass and the continuing change in form of energy and mass. I also understand that the potential energy in the two objects changes to kinetic energy as a result of gravity. My real question is: what causes the form of energy to transform? Why do the objects' masses cause them to move?
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Generically, if I have a particle which has potential energy $\phi(x,y,z)$, then the force on that particle will be given by ${\vec F} = - {\vec \nabla}\phi$. So, generically, the motion of particles will "try" to minimze the potential energy. In particular, the only points where the particle will not move will be those points where $\nabla \phi = 0$, or, in simple terms, the potential energy doesn't change under small displacements.
Furthermore, these points will only be stable stationary points if they also represent a minimum of the potential.
Zo the Relativist
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