Can heavy objects be used to modulate light waves with small amplitude?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the interaction between heavy objects, specifically celestial bodies, and light waves, particularly focusing on whether heavy objects can modulate light waves with small amplitude, and conversely, if high amplitude waves can influence small mass objects. The scope includes theoretical considerations and conceptual clarifications regarding gravitational effects on light.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether heavy objects can operate light waves with smaller amplitude and suggests that the amplitude of light waves must decrease significantly when influenced by heavy celestial bodies.
  • Another participant challenges the initial claim, stating that the diagram does not accurately represent real-world physics.
  • A different participant introduces the concept of gravitational lensing, questioning the assumption that amplitude would be affected and why it should be low.
  • Another response suggests that the intuition behind light waves being "compressed" by gravitational effects may not align with how these phenomena operate in the universe.
  • A later reply clarifies that static masses do not emit gravitational waves, indicating that dynamic interactions are necessary for such effects, and emphasizes the distinction between gravity and gravitational waves.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express disagreement regarding the initial claims about the modulation of light waves by heavy objects, with no consensus reached on the validity of the proposed ideas.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the assumptions made about the relationship between mass and light amplitude, as well as the conditions under which gravitational waves are produced. The discussion does not resolve these complexities.

r731
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Question: Can heavy objects be used to operate light waves with smaller amplitude, or waves with high amplitude be used to operate objects with small mass?

This is a diagram I drew that illustrates my point. Heavy objects are meant to be celestial bodies, and the light source generates a beam of light between the heavy pairs, as shown in the image. Given the objects are heavy and the lightwaves have low amplitude, the decrease in amplitude of the lightwaves must be significant.

Is this true?

Is the converse true as well, as put forth in the question?
 

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r731 said:
Is this true?

I'm afraid not. You picture doesn't accurately describe the real world in any way.
 
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When massive celestial objects bend light, they form something known as a gravitational lens. What makes you think that the amplitude would be affected in such a situation and why does it have to be low anyway?
 
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I think your intuition led you to think that a light wave is "compressed" or perhaps modulated by two adjacent gravitational waves but I just don't think that's the way things works in the universe.
 
r731 said:
Question: Can heavy objects be used to operate light waves with smaller amplitude, or waves with high amplitude be used to operate objects with small mass?

This is a diagram I drew that illustrates my point. Heavy objects are meant to be celestial bodies, and the light source generates a beam of light between the heavy pairs, as shown in the image. Given the objects are heavy and the lightwaves have low amplitude, the decrease in amplitude of the lightwaves must be significant.

Is this true?

Is the converse true as well, as put forth in the question?
Well, for one thing, static masses do not emit gravitational waves. You need something like masses orbiting each other to produce them. Gravitational waves are a secondary effect of gravity, in that you need gravity to have gravitational waves, but you don't need gravitational waves to have gravity.
 
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