Gravitational Waves: Origin & Mass Impact

In summary: Gravitational waves originate in much the same way as electromagnetic waves do. If you accelerate an electric charge, like an electron, it will produce an electromagnetic wave. The energy for this wave comes from the kinetic energy of the electron. In the same way, if you accelerate a mass, it will emit a gravitational wave, and the energy for that wave will come from the masses kinetic energy. In fact, since the above electron also has a mass, it will emit gravitational waves as well as electromagnetic ones. Gravitational waves however are very very weak and the electromagnetic waves account for the vast majority of the lost kinetic energy.However, if you accelerate a mass very fast, it will emit a much stronger
  • #1
vs_cygnus
1
0
How do gravitational waves originate?
Does the mass of the body, from where they are originating,decrease?
 
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  • #2
Gravitational waves originate in much the same way as electromagnetic waves do. If you accelerate an electric charge, like an electron, it will produce an electromagnetic wave. The energy for this wave comes from the kinetic energy of the electron.

In the same way, if you accelerate a mass, it will emit a gravitational wave, and the energy for that wave will come from the masses kinetic energy.
In fact, since the above electron also has a mass, it will emit gravitational waves as well as electromagnetic ones. Gravitational waves however are very very weak and the electromagnetic waves account for the vast majority of the lost kinetic energy.
 
  • #3
Janus said:
Gravitational waves originate in much the same way as electromagnetic waves do. If you accelerate an electric charge, like an electron, it will produce an electromagnetic wave. The energy for this wave comes from the kinetic energy of the electron.

In the same way, if you accelerate a mass, it will emit a gravitational wave, and the energy for that wave will come from the masses kinetic energy.
In fact, since the above electron also has a mass, it will emit gravitational waves as well as electromagnetic ones. Gravitational waves however are very very weak and the electromagnetic waves account for the vast majority of the lost kinetic energy.

isn't the kinetic energy something that is dependent upon reference frame? if so, do we mean that the energy for the gravitational or E&M wave comes from the reduced kinetic energy of the decellerated body (with mass and charge) with respect to the frame of reference of the observer measuring the wave? but then, what about if (in my frame of reference) the body is accelerated to a higher speed? doesn't it still emit a gravitational (or EM) wave due to that acceleration? where does the energy come from for both the wave and for the increased kinetic energy of the body?
 
  • #4
Are gravitational waves speculative rather than something taken as fact?
 
  • #5
Voltage said:
Are gravitational waves speculative rather than something taken as fact?
In physics there is no difference :rolleyes:

I don't think they have been conclusively detected yet but there are a number of new gravitational wave detectors coming on line.
They are predicted by GR and don't cause any real problems in any other theory so are quite likely to be 'real'.
 
  • #7
I believe string theory also predicts their occurance, a massless particle with spin=2 spoken of in this article
 

1. What are gravitational waves?

Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of space-time caused by the acceleration of massive objects. They were predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity and were first observed in 2015.

2. How are gravitational waves produced?

Gravitational waves are produced when objects with mass, such as black holes or neutron stars, accelerate. This acceleration causes a distortion in space-time, which creates ripples that travel outward at the speed of light.

3. What is the origin of gravitational waves?

The origin of gravitational waves can be traced back to the early universe, when massive objects were constantly colliding and merging. In the present day, they are produced by events such as the collision of black holes or the explosion of supernovae.

4. How does the mass of objects impact gravitational waves?

The mass of an object directly affects the strength and frequency of the gravitational waves it produces. Larger objects with more mass produce stronger gravitational waves, while smaller objects with less mass produce weaker gravitational waves.

5. Can gravitational waves be detected?

Yes, gravitational waves can be detected using highly sensitive instruments called interferometers. These devices measure the tiny distortions in space-time caused by gravitational waves, allowing scientists to observe and study them.

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