Potential energy and gravity

[trinitree88]

The increase in gravitational potential energy plugs into E=mc², as per Einstein...so the object increases it's mass by m=E/c². It's tiny but there. Warming an object calorimetrically does the same sort of thing. Any increase in energy is always accompanied by a commensurate increase in mass. It's because the conversion factor is so small that it is generally left out of most discussions, but for completeness it must always be there.
As for the warping of Minkowski space-time, due to the separation of the masses there is always a commensurate change in the ambient neutrino sea flux when that occurs....that is also inseparable, and usually not included because the conversion factor is so small. pete.

[a1call]

At the deepest level, "mass" is another word for energy in a particular form, and "energy" is just book-keeping. It's a conserved quantity we have defined in a useful way, but we've no idea what it actually is.

Grant Hutchison

I'm afraid that we are still left out of business.
I would conclude that we do not have a complete model of universe that describes the precise mechanics of compressing a spring yielding increased gravitational attraction.

I guess it's one of those things like the constancy of speed of light. We have to simply accept it as a measurement. That's as much insight as we are ever likely to get.

[grant hutchison]

I would conclude that we do not have a complete model of universe that describes the precise mechanics of compressing a spring yielding increased gravitational attraction.

What would you consider to be a "complete" model of the Universe?

Grant Hutchison

[a1call]

My personal definition of a complete model of anything would be one that has worked out all the functions based directly or indirectly on some axioms.

Then again axioms are assumed and not explained.
So I would define a complete model an unachievable ideal.

[grant hutchison]

So I would define a complete model an unachievable ideal.

Well, we're agreed on that.
But in as much as we have a definition of "energy", we know where the extra energy is in the compressed spring.
And in as much as we have a definition of "gravity", we know that this extra energy will increase gravitational attraction.

So that little bit of the Universe at least seems to meet your criteria for a worked-out function based on a couple of axioms.

Grant Hutchison

[a1call]

In other words, we are in business. Just not very close to the weekend.

Seriously though it must be my middle of the week blues talking.
Please don't take me too seriously.