Gravity Waves: Speed & Possible Outcomes

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SUMMARY

Gravity behaves like waves, propagating at the speed of light. If the sun were to suddenly disappear, the planets would continue in their orbits until the gravitational effects reached them, demonstrating that gravity has a finite speed. This delay could theoretically lead to scenarios where planets might collide or enter new orbits due to the misalignment of gravitational influences. However, the discussion emphasizes that the sun cannot simply disappear, making such scenarios largely hypothetical.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gravitational theory
  • Familiarity with the concept of gravitational waves
  • Knowledge of orbital mechanics
  • Basic principles of astrophysics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research gravitational wave detection methods, such as LIGO
  • Study the implications of general relativity on gravity propagation
  • Explore the dynamics of planetary orbits in astrophysics
  • Investigate scenarios involving the disappearance of massive celestial bodies
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Astronomers, astrophysicists, students of physics, and anyone interested in the dynamics of gravity and celestial mechanics.

espen180
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I heard somewhere that gravity behaves much like waves. That must mean that gravity has a speed, right?

Does that mean that is the sun suddenly dissapeared, the planets in our solar system would continue to move in their previous orbits until the end of the waves reaches them?

Then, if two planets by chance were properly alligned to each other, then one might start going in a straight live before the other, and the other, who is still moving in an orbit, moves in such a way that the two planets collide with one another or start to go in orbits around each other?
 
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espen180 said:
I heard somewhere that gravity behaves much like waves. That must mean that gravity has a speed, right?

Yes, the speed of light.

Does that mean that if the sun suddenly dissapeared, the planets in our solar system would continue to move in their previous orbits until the end of the waves reaches them?

Yes, the effects of gravity take time to propagate.

Then, if two planets by chance were properly alligned to each other, then one might start going in a straight live before the other, and the other, who is still moving in an orbit, moves in such a way that the two planets collide with one another or start to go in orbits around each other?

It is not apparent to me that this would necessarily be a possible situation if the sun suddenly disappeared, but it's certainly not possible for the sun to disappear, so it's a moot question.
 
I thought gravitational waves only occur around major events like two black holes colliding or super novae?
 

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