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Ranku
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We know that the orbital period of binary stars decay due to the emission of gravity waves that carry away energy from the system. What is the form of the energy loss of the system: kinetic energy or potential energy?
It's a combination of the two. The potential energy becomes more negative, while the kinetic energy increases.Ranku said:We know that the orbital period of binary stars decay due to the emission of gravity waves that carry away energy from the system. What is the form of the energy loss of the system: kinetic energy or potential energy?
Chalnoth said:It's a combination of the two. The potential energy becomes more negative, while the kinetic energy increases.
I'm not sure that question makes a whole lot of sense. The essential thing is that they transport energy away from the binary system, and can, in principle, deposit that energy elsewhere.Ranku said:Can we discern potential and kinetic energy components in the gravitational waves themselves?
What do you mean the effect is not gravitational?Ranku said:When gravitational waves impact an object, say a dust sphere, the effect is not gravitational.
Chalnoth said:What do you mean the effect is not gravitational?
That's not a statement that they're not gravitational. I don't think anybody who studied General Relativity would even begin to think that gravity waves should cause matter to be attracted to a source.Ranku said:When gravitational waves impact a dust sphere, it alternately ellipses in perpendicular directions transverse to the direction of the waves. Gravitational waves do not cause gravitational motion of the dust sphere toward the source of the gravity waves.
Indeed not only are gravity waves not gravitational, primordial gravity waves could actually be repulsive! http://arxiv.org/abs/0909.1922v1
Orbital period decay occurs due to the emission of gravitational waves. These waves are produced when massive objects, such as binary star systems, accelerate due to their orbital motion. The emission of these waves causes the objects to lose energy and gradually spiral closer together, resulting in a shorter orbital period.
Yes, orbital period decay can be observed through various methods. One way is through the measurement of pulsar timing. Pulsars are highly magnetized neutron stars that emit regular radio pulses. As the pulsar orbits its companion, the timing of these pulses can be affected by the orbital period decay, allowing scientists to measure the rate of decay.
Gravitational waves play a crucial role in shaping the universe. They can cause objects to merge and form larger structures, such as galaxies and galaxy clusters. They also carry information about the events that produce them, such as the merger of black holes or neutron stars, providing a new way to study these phenomena.
Yes, gravitational waves can be detected on Earth using advanced instruments called interferometers. These devices use laser beams to measure tiny changes in the distance between two objects caused by passing gravitational waves. The first direct detection of gravitational waves was made in 2015 by the Advanced LIGO interferometer.
Studying orbital period decay and gravitational waves has many practical applications. It allows us to better understand the behavior of celestial objects and can help us refine our understanding of gravity and the laws of physics. Additionally, the detection of gravitational waves has the potential to open up new avenues for astronomy and cosmology, providing a unique way to study the universe and its evolution.