Unravelling the Mystery of Gravity's Speed & Bend

In summary, the conversation discusses the 4 basic forces in the universe, specifically gravity and electromagnetic force. It is mentioned that both forces travel at the speed of light and that light is bent by gravity. There is a question about whether gravity is also bent by gravity and whether an object orbits the barycentre of A2-B-C or A1-B-C. It is suggested that only light is bent and that objects move according to space-time curvature. The possibility of gravitational waves being deflected is also mentioned.
  • #1
Stephanus
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Dear PF Forum,

I realize that there are 4 basic forces in our universe.
Two of them are gravity and electromagnetic force.
Gravity curvature.jpg

Electromagnetic travels at the speed of light.
And it seems that Gravity travels/propagates at the speed of light also.

Light is bent by gravity. What about gravity?
Is gravity bent by gravity?
In the picture above. Planet C will see star A1 as in position A2.
What about the gravity? Does C orbit the barycentre of A2-B-C, or the barycenter of A1-B-C?

Thanks
 
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  • #2
If you think about this, you will see that there's only one object and its real position is ##A_1## but as we know light path will change according to gravity of B planet. So we will see ##A_1## in ##A_2##.Thats doesn't mean gravity bent.Only light bent and we different place the object so the answer will be ##A_1## B C.Objects move according to space time curvature.If you think real ##A_1## is in ##A_2## that causes different curvature and movement.
 
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  • #3
Stephanus said:
What about the gravity? Does C orbit the barycentre of A2-B-C, or the barycenter of A1-B-C?
I don't think gravity is deflected this way, but gravitational waves might be.
 
Last edited:
  • #4
Given that the reason for light being bent is because they follow the geodesic of a distorted spacetime, I would think gravity waves would do the same. It would strike me as peculiar if they somehow traveled through spacetime in a special manner independent of the distortion.
 

1. What is the speed of gravity?

The speed of gravity is believed to be the same as the speed of light, which is approximately 299,792,458 meters per second. However, this has not been conclusively proven and remains a topic of ongoing research and debate among scientists.

2. How does gravity bend space and time?

According to Einstein's theory of general relativity, gravity is not a force between masses, but rather a curvature of space and time caused by the presence of massive objects. This means that massive objects, such as planets and stars, can bend the fabric of space and time, causing other objects to follow a curved path around them.

3. Can gravity travel through empty space?

Yes, gravity can travel through empty space. According to the theory of general relativity, gravity is a distortion in the fabric of space and time, and this distortion can travel through the vacuum of space without the need for a medium.

4. What factors affect the speed and bend of gravity?

The speed and bend of gravity can be affected by the mass and distance of objects. The larger the mass of an object, the stronger its gravitational pull, and the closer two objects are to each other, the stronger the gravitational force between them will be. Other factors, such as the presence of other massive objects and the shape of the objects, can also influence the speed and bend of gravity.

5. How is the speed and bend of gravity measured?

The speed and bend of gravity can be measured using various techniques, such as observing the motion of planets and stars, studying the effects of gravitational lensing, and using instruments like interferometers and gravimeters. These measurements can help scientists better understand the behavior of gravity and its effects on the universe.

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