Gravity & Wave Forms: Interactions Explained

In summary, gravity affects electromagnetic waves and it has been proven to exist through the bending of light. However, this does not mean that gravity itself is a wave, as it is the bending of space and time caused by mass. Everything is affected by this bending of space.
  • #1
hagar
Gold Member
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Does gravity affect waves such as gamma, xray, radio etc. and how does it interact with other wave forms considering gravity is a wave itself.

Respectfully,
Pat Hagar
 
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  • #2
Yes, gravity affects EM waves.

No, gravity is not a wave.
 
  • #3
Orodruin said:
Yes, gravity affects EM waves.

No, gravity is not a wave.

I have read in the last few months that gravitational waves have finally been proven to exist.
 
  • #4
hagar said:
I have read in the last few months that gravitational waves have finally been proven to exist.
Yes, this does not mean that gravity is a wave. Just as EM waves do not mean an electric field is a wave or waves on the surface of a pond mean that the surface is a wave.
 
  • #5
Thank you for the response. That sounds reasonable.

Respectfully,
Pat Hagar
 
  • #6
Not only "yes", but very famously "yes". With General Relativity Einstein predicted twice as much light bending as Newtonian gravity. The race was on to try and measure the bending precisely by observing stars near the edge of the solar disk during a solar eclipse. When Einstein's value was confirmed in 1919 it made headline news around the world and made Einstein world famous. I saw a really good documentary about the race and frustrations of trying to make the solar eclipse measurement.

Anyhow, I will add that the idea of General Relativity is that mass bends space and time. Everything must be affected when space itself is bent!
 
  • #7
Thank you for the in depth explanation. This makes things much clearer.

Respectfully,
Pat Hagar
 

1. What is gravity?

Gravity is a fundamental force in the universe that causes objects with mass to be attracted to one another. It is the force that keeps planets in orbit around the sun and objects on Earth from floating away into space.

2. How does gravity work?

Gravity works by creating a force field around objects with mass. The more massive an object is, the stronger its gravitational pull. This force field causes objects to be pulled towards each other, resulting in the phenomenon we know as gravity.

3. What are wave forms?

Wave forms are patterns of oscillation or vibration that can travel through a medium, such as air or water. They can be described by their wavelength, frequency, and amplitude, and are a fundamental aspect of many natural phenomena, including sound and light.

4. How do gravity and wave forms interact?

Gravity and wave forms can interact in a few different ways. One example is gravitational waves, which are disturbances in the fabric of space-time caused by the acceleration of massive objects. These waves can carry energy and information across vast distances, and they were first predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity.

5. Can gravity be manipulated or controlled?

Currently, there is no known way to manipulate or control gravity. However, scientists are constantly studying and researching ways to understand and harness the power of gravity. Some theories suggest that with advanced technology, it may be possible to manipulate gravity in the future, but this is still purely speculative.

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