Gravitational Waves: What Would Happen to Matter?

[jackyruth]

If a huge wave of space-time hit, let's say a space ship, what would theoritically happen to it? Would it be pushed away like the way air do, or would the spaceship itself ripple as if it is woven into spacetime?

 

[WannabeNewton]

Hi jacky! It is probably better to consider a simpler scenario: that of an isolated circular ring of test particles. On that note, see this thread: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=684725&highlight=gravitational+waves and here: http://www.astro.cardiff.ac.uk/research/gravity/tutorial/?page=2theeffect plus wiki has a neat little animation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_wave

Also there's a related FAQ: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=635645