how would you measure the speed of gravity and how do you think there gonna harness it?
2007-08-16 09:58:11 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
This is an interesting question, and the short answer is that we don't know for sure. One would expect that, on the basis of relativity, it would be at the speed of light. But there is a problem with this; consider the earth's orbit around the sun. Does the earth fall toward where the sun is at this instant, or where it was eight minutes ago? Analysis indicates that it falls toward where the sun is at this instant. Which leaves the whole topic in a bit of a muddle.
2007-08-16 10:03:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
The speed of gravity is the speed of light.
This is fundamental in General Relativity, and every answer I have seen here so far is wrong.
For instance, were the sun to vaish suddenly, the Earth would continue in orbit for 8 minutes - the time for the gravitational consequences to reach us.
GR has been tested in a number of ways to confirm this fact for the speed of gravity, including the precession of the perihelion of Mercury.
2007-08-16 17:22:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can take off a stone located at H high respect to the floor and measure two things;
The high and the time to fall on the floor. Thus, you can use the equation
y = 1/2 g t^2 and obtain g.
Other was is use a simple pendulum: you must to measured the lenght of the pendulum and the time that it takes to do a one oscillation.
2007-08-16 17:13:55 · answer #3 · answered by Juan D 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
gravity is a force, it doesn't have a speed. It can, however, act on things and cause them to move, hence giving them speed.
we've already harnessed gravity for energy. one example is dams. we create two levels, and let water fall from one level to the other. as it falls, it turns turbine engines and we get electricity from them.
2007-08-16 17:01:32 · answer #4 · answered by jibba.jabba 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Gravity does not have speed, you cannot measure it.
2007-08-16 17:10:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Gravity is a force, and as such has no speed.
2007-08-16 17:14:52 · answer #6 · answered by gilliegrrrl 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Gravity is an acclerative entity, it has no speed.
Success in physics means not getting sloppy with your terms. Work on it.
2007-08-16 17:02:44 · answer #7 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
hmmmmmm, I don't know if gravity has a "speed." It's a force, and forces can't "travel," so they can't have "speed."
2007-08-16 17:01:32 · answer #8 · answered by J Z 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
74 miles per hour falling with no variables.
Things fall at the same rate regardless of mass, however friction and inertia are variables that can change.
2007-08-16 17:08:50 · answer #9 · answered by tatyananashi 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋