Or did they just assume that? How do we know they don't propagate faster than light?
2006-07-06 16:39:24 · 7 answers · asked by virtualscientist01 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Just for whoever is looking at this question; the idea that nothing can move faster than the speed of light is an ad hoc assumption placed on relativity. It's put there because of a common (and very intuitive) belief that if event A causes event B, then A happened before B no matter who you ask. As self evident as that may seem to be, it doesn't necessarily have to be true.
2006-07-06 17:22:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
There's tons of research going on right now to detect gravitational waves. We don't know if they travel at the speed of light because we don't know much about the graviton or if it exists. If it is similiar to a photon, yes, it could move at the speed of light. If relativity holds up (which I'm pretty sure it will) it will NOT travel faster than c.
2006-07-06 23:43:42 · answer #2 · answered by mem 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Solutions of Einstein's equations of General Relativity predict the existence of gravity waves and that they travel at the speed of light. None have yet been detected because their effect on matter is extremely small.
2006-07-07 01:47:15 · answer #3 · answered by gp4rts 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From what I understand, gravity waves are still a theory. In order to prove that gravity waves move at a certain speed or not, we first have to successfully detect them (in order to measure their speed). There are a few experiments that I know of that are attempting to do just that, but I haven’t kept close enough watch on any of them to update anyone on whether or not they were successful.
2006-07-07 00:35:15 · answer #4 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know is gravity is considered a wave (I don't think it is), but there have been experiments recently that indicate that the effect of gravity between to objects is dictated by the speed of light. That is, gravity has a maximum speed.
2006-07-06 23:46:40 · answer #5 · answered by Ѕємι~Мαđ ŠçїєŋŧιѕТ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'll try to explain why i think gravity does not travel as a wave (or travel at all). Unlike photons or charges, gravity is not a means of transporting energy. Its a force. Force simply exists it does not need to be transported into objects.
2006-07-07 01:00:50 · answer #6 · answered by puma 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
kepler
2006-07-06 23:42:11 · answer #7 · answered by afmooseluvrx3 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋