2006-08-26 07:27:32 · 17 answers · asked by Maaka 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Yes. Gravity Speed is higher than the speed of light. And your question was perfectly phrased, by the way. The effect of a change in an object's position is felt by other nearby and distant objects in less time than it takes for light to travel between those two objects. So, "gravity speed" is faster than light speed. And, theory aside, it must be faster in order for objects that orbit one another to follow the behavior that we observe in nature. Of course, that is only one of many arguments and theories being discussed in theoretical circles. The most compelling argument that I have read on this issue is by Mr. Tom Van Flandern (http://www.ldolphin.org/vanFlandern/gravityspeed.html). His paper on the subject is enlightening and for the most part, at least as much as he could make it so, is in layman's terms. Good Luck.
2006-08-28 19:57:58 · answer #1 · answered by charlesellis753 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Some people here have been reading too many comics and not enough physics research.
Another question comes to mind:
Does gravity travel at the speed of light or does light travel at the speed of gravity?
Gravity can indeed have a speed associated with it.
Consider this:
If the Sun disappeared instantly, would the Earth immediately fly off tangent to its normal orbit without delay or would there be an 8 minute delay corresponding to the light-time between the Earth and the Sun?
Experiments have been done to try and answer that question:
"The speed of gravity has been measured for the first time. The landmark experiment shows that it travels at the speed of light, meaning that Einstein's general theory of relativity has passed another test with flying colours. "
Quoted from:
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3232
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2006-08-26 14:39:21 · answer #2 · answered by Jay T 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
LeAnne's explanation is correct. The force of gravity is transmitted by gravitons, which are predicted to be massless particles that theoretically should travel at the speed of light. Relativity didn't use gravitons, but the information of gravity should still travel at the speed of light according to Einstein.
Gravity causes an acceleration just like an electromagnetic field causes acceleration. But something has to transmit the information of that field to a particle (or object) that is present in the field. That information is NOT instantaneous. It travels at the speed of light.
That experiment to measure the speed of gravity is very controversial and questionable, so I wouldn't quote it.
2006-08-26 17:03:09 · answer #3 · answered by Davon 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have never heard about the gravity speed but however there is no any other speed to compair with speed of light. Not even a bullet have that kind of speed.
2006-08-26 14:44:11 · answer #4 · answered by Dilusha F 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gravity is an illusion, because technically the whole universe is expanding and galaxies rotating and masses forming with a certain gravity speed, higher as in a falling object to be falling "faster than a beam of light thru space? Well im not quite sure but a black hole keeps running thru my mind. Try stephen hawkings quantum mechanics, and the new discovery or update on the illusion of gravity, in Discover magazines website.
2006-08-26 14:34:09 · answer #5 · answered by the sponge 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
No. What's more, there is no such event that takes place instantaneously at a distance - light speed is the fastest transmission of any event - whether it be gravity or a radio EM transmission.
Scientists have been trying to detect gravity waves for a long time - but it is theorized that these individual waves are so weak that detection with our present technologies may be impossible.
The EFFECT of gravity, much like the EFFECT of electrical energy is transmitted at or very close to the speed of light.
Just another feather in Einstein's hat. Most of his mathematical calculations have past the test of modern experimentation - not bad for a guy who wrote them over 85 years ago - prior to computers, atom smashers and any high tech electronics, eh?
2006-08-26 15:36:23 · answer #6 · answered by LeAnne 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
No. Gravity waves move at the speed of light as do gravitons.
2006-08-26 19:39:26 · answer #7 · answered by mathematician 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Someone told me that a black hole has so much gravity that light cannot escape. Being a scientific knucklehead, this seems like a reasonable explanation. But does this mean that light is just suspended in it's attempt to escape? Or is it bouncing around inside there, at the speed of light.
Before you eggheads dismiss me as just another ignorant moron, just remember, in the scheme of things, none of us know ****.
2006-08-26 15:26:00 · answer #8 · answered by Dr Know It All 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
According to Einstien, gravity waves propagate at the speed of light.
According to Newton, gravity is an acceleration, and thus doesn't move.
According to Mickey, there is no gravity, the earth sucks.
2006-08-26 14:34:09 · answer #9 · answered by Wicked Mickey 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Nothing is faster than the speed of light.
2006-08-26 14:32:49 · answer #10 · answered by Wai 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋